Cleveland State hands UIC worst defeat of season

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Updated: March 7, 2012 9:50AM

UIC has proved it can play with every team in the Horizon League, as evidenced by the fact that all but three of its conference games have been decided by single digits.

But the Flames have struggled to stay mentally prepared. That was most apparent in their game Sunday against Cleveland State at the Pavilion.

UIC seemed stunned by the Vikings’ defense in a 70-42 defeat, its worst loss of the season. It came three days after the Flames beat Youngstown State for one of their biggest victories of the season.

‘‘We really weren’t prepared for the next challenge mentally,’’ UIC coach Howard Moore said. ‘‘I thought we had a good game plan going in. I thought our guys had some sharp practices. But mentally, once we got out there and had to deal with what they do, then it was a little different story.’’

The Flames (8-15, 3-10) shot only 27.3 percent but trailed by only eight with 13:35 left before center Darrin Williams committed an intentional foul on Cleveland State’s Aaron Pogue. That spurred an 8-1 Vikings run that helped put the game out of reach.

‘‘It was a big turn,’’ Moore said. ‘‘That was a big play, and it wasn’t really Darrin’s best judgment there.’’

Hayden Humes led UIC with 11 points. Cleveland State (20-4, 10-2) did an excellent job of shutting down guard Gary Talton, who was limited to one point and appeared frustrated all afternoon.