UIC makes sophomore appearance in tournament

CLEVELAND -- Cedrick Banks walked over and greeted Loyola coach Larry Farmer after the game just as he almost always does -- with a hug and kiss.

"I love the kid," Farmer said. "I just wish he would have missed that shot."

Banks made a turnaround jumper with four seconds left in overtime Tuesday night, giving Illinois-Chicago a 76-75 win over Loyola of Chicago in the championship game of the Horizon tournament.

With the victory, the Flames (20-13) won Chicago hoops' bragging rights and the Horizon's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. UIC will be making just its second tournament appearance.

"We made history as the first champs of the Horizon League," said UIC coach Jimmy Collins, whose suit was drenched in the postgame celebration. "Here we come."

Get ready Duke, Kansas, and the rest you big-name conference schools.

"These kids think they can play with anybody," Collins said. "And they're starting to make me believe it, too."

It's going to be tough for any game in the NCAA tournament to match the Horizon final, which had its share of dramatic swings and a heart-pounding final 13 seconds of OT.

"Wow," Farmer said. "Absolutely wow. What a game."

David Bailey, who scored 35 points for Loyola (17-13), had given the Ramblers a 75-74 lead by making two free throws with 13.1 seconds left in overtime.

After a timeout, the Flames rushed the ball up the floor, and UIC's Martell Bailey -- David's younger brother -- got it to Banks, who posted up Kevin Clancy, spun and dropped in his 12-footer.

"Our defense was good," Farmer said. "Cedric just made a tough shot."

Loyola hurried the ball inbounds, and Clancy had his off-balance heave from 40 feet bounce off the rim as the horn sounded.

As UIC's players rushed onto the floor, some of them stopped to console David Bailey. Many of the players on both teams are former high school teammates and close friends.

"That made me feel a little better," said David Bailey, his eyes filled with tears. "But ....."

Banks had 17 points, and Jon-Pierre Mitchom 12 for the Flames, who made 11 3-pointers.

Loyola, trying to get back to the NCAA tourney for the first time since 1985, got 15 points and 16 rebounds from Ryan Blankson.

The matchup between the schools, whose campuses are separated by about 10 miles, was especially tough on the Bailey family as mom, dad, a sister and two other brothers had to alternate who they cheered for.

And the Baileys certainly weren't the only Chicagoans divided.

Farmer had become something of a surrogate coach last season for Martell Bailey and Banks, who were both academically ineligible. Both would go to Loyola's campus to visit David Bailey, and Farmer would allow them to shootaround.

"That's the hard part of it for me," Farmer said. "I've known Cedric for four years."

Louis Smith made a layup with 44 seconds left in OT to give the Ramblers a 73-72 lead and then he drew a charging foul on Martell Bailey.

But David Bailey picked up his dribble on the inbounds pass and his crosscourt pass was picked off by his younger brother, who hit a layup to put UIC up 74-73 with 13.1 seconds remaining.

"I was trapped," David Bailey said. "I knew we had a timeout. I don't know why I didn't use it."

Banks, who played high school ball with the Baileys, was then called for a holding foul. David Bailey made both free throws before Banks hit his game-winner.

"I've got more gray hair," Collins said. "I lost a few more strands and I've got an ulcer."