Morning Box Score: Bulls Slip Against Hawks, Illini Hold Off Nebraska
By Tim Bearden in News on Jan 8, 2012 4:00PM
The Bulls played their third game in four nights, but the Hawks found a secret to success against them: limit the starting line-up. Luol Deng and Derrick Rose have been the Bulls' two biggest scoring threats, but were limited to only eight points apiece against the Hawks. Bulls back-up point guard John Lucas III led the team with 16 points, 14 of which came in the fourth, which led the team. The Bulls had embarrassed the Hawks earlier in the week and it goes to show what comes around, goes around.
The Illini are off to a great start this season at 14-3 after beating Nebraska Saturday afternoon. It was the Joseph Bertrand show as the Illinois guard scored 25 of the team's 59 points against the Cornhuskers, a career-high. Bertrand helped the Illini put distance between them and Nebraska with under a minute left in the game, which gave Illinois the five point advantage. With this start, let's just hope we don't see a repeat of their football program's season.
Cleveland State 69, Loyola-Chicago 48
Loyola Chicago just couldn't hold on against Cleveland State on Saturday and accrued yet another mark in the "L" column. Loyola had the lead with eight minutes left in the first half, but the Vikings took the lead before halftime and never looked back. They led by 15 going into the half and the Ramblers tried to claw their way back in the second, but it just wasn't enough. Loyola has lost its last four games.
Eastern Michigan 47, Northern Illinois 40
The Huskies put up a fight against Eastern Michigan, but just didn't seem to click on Saturday. The Eagles broke out to an early 11 point lead, but Northern Illinois fought back to lead 26-23 at halftime. With eight minutes left to play in the game it was tied 35-35 until Antonio Green of the Eagles sank two free throws giving Eastern Michigan the lead. They stayed ahead the rest of the game. This loss comes after the Huskies won their first game of the season on Monday against Roosevelt.