By Alan Liang

Gargoyle staff reporter

Posted Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, The OG, sports

Michael Belmont launches a shot against

DeLand-Weldon during Uni's win on Friday.
(Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)

URBANA — If anyone was wondering how the Uni boys varsity basketball team would respond to losing its first conference game in three years, the Illineks provided a clear answer Friday night. With strong defense and good ball movement, they soundly defeated conference opponent DeLand-Weldon 79-43 at Kenney Gym.

With the win, Uni's record improves to 7-10 overall and 3-1 in the East Central Illinois Conference. DeLand-Weldon drops to 0-11, 0-5.

The Illineks are tied for second in the ECIC with Decatur Lutheran (7-9, 3-1). Judah Christian leads the conference (11-3, 3-0).

Uni remains well-positioned to make a run at its third straight ECIC championship. The team's remaining eight conference games include two against Decatur Lutheran (Thursday on the road; Feb. 13 at home) and two against Judah (Jan. 23 away; Feb. 16 at home).

Friday night's contest quickly turned into a mismatch. After the Eagles' initial basket, Uni went on a 14-point run. The game started with a barrage of 3-pointers from juniors Chumar Williams and Mike Renner and senior Michael Belmont.

The Illineks' performance was definitely an improvement over Tuesday's 51-36 home loss to the Normal Calvary Baptist Crusaders — the first time the Uni varsity had fallen to an ECIC opponent since February 2004.

“We played better basketball than on Tuesday,” said head coach Joel Beesley after the game. “We were playing dodgeball on Tuesday.”

With 3 minutes left in the first quarter, the Illineks subbed out their starters and began playing their bench. An error in the Uni scorebook gave the Illineks a technical. However, the Eagles were unable to take advantage of the opportunity and missed both shots. The quarter ended with the Illineks ahead 20-8.

Uni continued to attack in the second quarter and went into halftime leading 43-20.

There weren't many surprises throughout the rest of the game; it was clear that Uni had the better team. The third quarter ended with Uni nursing a 28-point advantage. The final margin of 36 was the team's biggest of the season.

Junior Isaac Radnitzer and senior Jeremy Pillow were both traveling with their families during the game. However, the Illineks proved just fine in their absence; after conceding the first basket, the Illineks led the entire game. Everyone present on the varsity roster scored at least 2 points.

The Illineks' final tally of 79 points tied their highest output of the season. They also netted 79 against Buckley Christ Lutheran on Dec. 12.

“We played much better as a team and shared the ball well, so everyone scored,” said junior Austin Rundus.

Renner led the team with 16 points, followed by Rundus with 15 and Belmont with 11. The Illineks made nine 3-pointers (Rundus and Williams, three each; Renner, two; Belmont, one).

Junior Ammar Rizwan grabbed a team-high 6 rebounds. Renner and junior Frankie McFarland added 5 boards apiece. Renner dished out 5 assists, followed by Williams with 4.

The Illineks will visit Paxton-Buckley-Loda Tuesday in a nonconference game.

VARSITY RECORD: 7-10 overall, 3-1 East Central Illinois Conference
(Games at Kenney Gym are in bold)

Season Preview: A new era begins

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 50-44
— leading scorer: Michael Belmont, 12 pts
— story: Uni wins season opener over Buckley Christ Lutheran

Nov. 21: Mahomet-Seymour JV (vs. Uni varsity) (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 58-53
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 18 pts
— story: Illineks defeat Mahomet-Seymour JV in Turkey Tourney

Nov. 24: Bement (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), L 54-46 (OT)
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 13 pts
— story: Illineks fall in overtime

Nov. 25: Martinsville (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney, at A-H), L 51-48
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 24 pts
— story: Illineks go down to the wire again

Dec. 1: Shiloh, W 55-46
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 29 pts
— story: Illineks get back on winning track, defeat Shiloh

Dec. 5: at St. Thomas More, L 54-32
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 7 pts
— story: Illineks suffer tough road loss to crosstown rival

Dec. 9: Fisher, L 53-39
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 21 pts
— story: Renner scores 21 but Uni falls to Fisher

Dec. 12: at Buckley Christ Lutheran, W 79-51 *
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 18 pts
— story: Uni wins conference opener against Buckley Christ Lutheran

Dec. 15: Oakwood, L 74-61
— leading scorer: Michael Belmont, 19 pts
— story: Oakwood denies Uni comeback bid

Dec. 27: Shiloh (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), L 65-61
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 17 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Dec. 27: Salt Fork (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), L 53-32
— leading scorer: Dan Lilly, 10 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Dec. 28: Heritage (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), L 62-48
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 15 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Dec. 28: Atwood-Hammond (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), W 62-51
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 24 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Dec. 29: Oakwood (Hayden's Athletic Classic at Heritage H.S.), L 52-50
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 17 pts
— story: Uni finishes eighth out of 12 teams in holiday tourney

Jan. 5: at Decatur Christian (DC's “JV,” as explained in article linked below), W 66-52 *
— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 15 pts
— story: Illineks remain unbeaten in conference play

Jan. 9: Normal Calvary Baptist, L 51-36 *

— leading scorer: Michael Belmont, 11 pts

— story: Normal Calvary hands Uni first conference loss of season

Jan. 12: DeLand-Weldon, W 79-43 *

— leading scorer: Mike Renner, 16 pts

— story: see above

Remaining games: see schedule

*East Central Illinois Conference game