Recap: Ill-Chicago vs. Mercer

St. Thomas, VI (Sports Network) - Hayden Humes and Gary Talton tied for the game high with 14 points each as the Illinois-Chicago Flames blazed by the Mercer Bears, 62-36, in the second round of the 2012 Paradise Jam Tournament at the UVI Sports & Fitness Center.

Humes and Talton were a combined 11-of-16 from the floor and added 4 rebounds each for the Flames (2-1), while Daniel Barnes accounted for nine points and seven boards. Humes was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range.

Travis Smith and Darious Moten both scored eight points for the Bears (2-2), although the former shot just 3-of-10 from the floor in the setback for the squad.

UIC's defense limited the Bears to just seven made field goals in the first half, including 2-of-7 shooting behind the three-point line, as the Flames claimed a 30-19 advantage at the break.

UIC made good on not just 12-of-24 from the field in the second half, it also converted 5-of-8 out on the perimeter, while holding Mercer to just seven field goals yet again. Late in the contest the Bears trailed by as many as 31 points before settling for the 26-point defeat.

UIC, which forced 17 turnovers and knocked down 8-of-15 shots behind the three-point line, will move on to face the winner of the Wake Forest/ Iona game in the third round of the tourney.