PHOENIX – UIC came from behind time and time again Saturday night in the desert, but the Flames ran out of time as the Grand Canyon Lopes picked up a 73-69 victory in nonconference action at GCU Arena.
 
In a game that featured five tie scores and an equal number of lead changes, the Flames (4-5) led the Lopes (5-4), 68-67, with 2:11 remaining before GCU's DeWayne Russell netted a jumper that put the home team ahead. On the next possession, Dixson was fouled on a 3-point attempt and he made one of three free throws to even the ledger with 1:37 remaining. Unfortunately it was the last point the visitors would tally and the Lopes scored four more points to conclude the contest.
 
How It Happened

• UIC got off to a fast start, quieting the rowdy crowd of 6,804. Dixson started the scoring with a steal and a dunk, and after Tarkus Ferguson got a layup and Clint Robinson had a slam of his own, GCU head coach Dan Majerle used a timeout just 1:49 into the ballgame with the Flames up 6-0.
• Later, the Lopes used a 9-0 run of their own to take a 24-19 lead with 8:05 to go in the period. UIC's Tai Odiase ended the surge with two of his four first-half points at the 7:19 mark.
• Grand Canyon led 31-23 with just over six minutes to go in the half before Dixson connected on a 3-pointer from the left corner that sparked an 8-0 run to tie the game. Ferguson had five points of his own during the run, including a 3-pointer from way downtown.
• The home team closed the first half on an 11-4 run, holding UIC scoreless over the final 1:17, and without a field goal over the last 2:51. Grand Canyon led at the break, 42-35.
• The second stanza opened with the Flames chopping the deficit down to a point after Odiase converted inside with 3:40 gone.
• UIC could not get over the hump as the Lopes led by five again with 9:45 remaining. A 3-pointer from just left of the top of the circle from Godwin Boahen got the Flames within a bucket and Ferguson soon knotted the score at 56 with 8:41 to go.
• Grand Canyon responded with a quick 9-0 run in 80 seconds, forcing UIC head coach Steve McClain to whistle for a timeout with 7:11 left on the clock.
• The stoppage did a world of wonder as it ignited a streak of 10 unanswered points. Marcus Ottey and Odiase scored inside, while Ferguson and Dixson connected from downtown. Dixson's triple, one of two on the night, gave UIC a 65-56 lead with 5:08 remaining.
• The Flames led by three with 3:42 left after Dixson drilled a pair from the charity stripe. GCU's Darion Clark sank two free throws of his own on the next possession before Russell's jumper put the Lopes ahead with a bit over two minutes left.
• UIC was held without a field goal over the final 5:08 of the game with five turnovers during that span.

 
Beyond The Box Score

• Ferguson scored a career-high 16 points for the Flames on 7-of-7 from the field. The Belleville, Ill., native made both of his 3-point attempts while playing a career-long 34 minutes.
• Robinson and Boahen each made their first career starts in a UIC uniform. The other starters included Dixson, Odiase and Ferguson; that trio has started all nine games for the Flames.
• Robinson scored in double figures, 10 points, for the second time in a UIC uniform. His three field goals were a career-best output in that category.
• The Flames out-shot the Lopes from the field, 48.1 percent (25-of-52) to 40.3 percent (27-of-67). It was the seventh time in eight games that UIC cleared 40 percent, while it was only the fifth time the opposition hit that mark. GCU shot 28.9 (11-of-28) percent in the second half, which the low mark for a UIC foe in any 20-minute segment this season.
• UIC shot 54.5 percent (12-of-22) in the second half Saturday, but the Flames were hampered by 12 turnovers in the final period.
• Both teams corralled 36 rebounds. The Flamed had the edge on the defensive glass, 28-21, while GCU cleaned up on the offensive end, 15-8. Odiase led UIC with a season-high nine rebounds
• UIC shot 60 percent from 3-point range (6-of-10) for the second time in the McClain era. The Flames also accomplished the feat on Dec. 12, 2015 against Illinois at the United Center in Chicago.
• The Flames' bench outscored GCU's, 13-11. Ottey led UIC's reserves with eight points and a pair of assists.

 
What's Next?

• UIC will return to the Windy City for a pair of crosstown clashes next week.
• The Flames will visit DePaul for a game on campus in Lincoln Park on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. That game will be played at McGrath-Phillips Arena and it will be televised on FS1.
• Head coach Steve McClain's squad will be back in the UIC Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 17, when it hosts former Horizon League member Loyola at 3 p.m.
• The Flames are 2-2 against in-state opponents during the 2016-17 campaign.