Those are significant improvements for a player who entered the game averaging 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds.
“I’ve been practicing really hard,” said Mpondo, who transferred to WSU last season from the University of New Orleans. “I wanted to get back in a rhythm. I had a pretty good defensive game two nights ago, and I tried to do better again.”
Mpondo started both games during WSU’s trip to Chicago, which included wins against Loyola and UIC. WSU coach Billy Donlon said Mpondo is strong on defense and also good on offense when aggressive.
“He’s not a bad low-post player when he catches and goes right to a move,” Donlon said. “In the first half, he caught it, and he looked around, thought he was Karl Malone.”
Williams big inside: UIC senior Darrin Williams, an inside load at 6-9 and 269 pounds, didn't play because of injury in the Flames' first game against WSU last year and had just two points and five rebounds in the second. He made up for lost time on Saturday.
Williams scored a career-high 22 points, including 8-of-8 free throws, and added seven rebounds before fouling out with 43.8 seconds left in regulation. He scored all nine points in a 9-0 run that sparked the Flames to a late first-half lead at 21-19 with 2 minutes left. He finished the half with 11 points and six rebounds.
Around the Horizon League: There are no more teams undefeated in league play. Milwaukee and Cleveland State, which entered the day undefeated in the Horizon League, lost to Butler and Youngstown State on Saturday. Wright State and Milwaukee are both 3-1.
Stats: WSU attempted zero free throws in the first half but made 22-of-31 in the second half and overtime. ... UIC made its first 16 free throws and finished 23-of-28, including 3-of-7 in overtime. ... WSU, which ranks last in the Horizon League in rebounding, outrebounded UIC (tied for first in the league), 37-34.
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