Morning Box Score
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Dec 30, 2009 4:00PM
Bulls Hold On To Clip Pacers
A week after their epic collapse against the Sacramento Kings, the Bulls nearly gave away another game that saw them with a large lead. Except this time they held on to clip the Pacers 104-95. The Bulls shot out to a 19-point lead after the first quarter but the Pacers bounced right back to cut the lead to four by halftime. The Pacers even took the lead briefly in the third, leading 72-71 but the Bulls battled back with a 15-3 run to close the quarter and gained a lead they wouldn't give back. Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 28 points and John Salmons scored 17 off the bench. Overall, the team had an excellent shooting performance, hitting 53 percent of their shots from the floor and 92 percent of their free throws. The Bulls try to roll a turkey tomorrow afternoon when they play at Detroit (2 p.m., CSN).
Dallas Outshines 'Hawks
You can't win 'em all. The 'Hawks put up a fight last night in Dallas but the Stars still shone brighter by a 5-4 final. Troy Brouwer got an early power play goal to open the game, but Dallas answered with two goals of their own for a 2-1 lead. The 'Hawks countered with a pair of their own to close out a high-flying first period: a power-play goal from Patrick Kane and Colin Fraser scoring his first goal of the season. The 'Hawks lead wouldn't last long as Dallas scored twice in the first 92 seconds of the second period to take a 4-3 lead that would last until the closing seconds of the period when Patrick Kane scored to even the game up. Steve Ott would score the game-winning goal - his second goal of the game - for Dallas early in the third. Huet and Niemi split time in net for the 'Hawks with stopping six shots but allowing four goals while Niemi recorded 13 saves but allowed the game-winner. The 'Hawks try to bounce back and end 2009 on a winning note when they return home to face the New Jersey Devils (7:30 p.m., CSN).
College Basketball
Robo Kreps had a solid night recording 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists to lead the UIC Flames past Toledo 66-52. Zavion Neely and Brad Birton each added 13 points in the winning effort.