CHICAGO -- Wright State (22-9, 14-4 HL) got 23 points from Loudon Love and 21 from Grant Benzinger in an 88-81 win over UIC (17-14, 12-6 HL) in the regular season finale Sunday afternoon at UIC Pavilion. Love also had 15 rebounds.

The Flames were led by Dikembe Dixson's 19 points. He was one of four Flames in double figures. 

Prior to the game, UIC honored seniors Tai Odiase and Clint Robinson, as well as senior manager Mike Kelly, for their contributions to the men's basketball program before their final appearance on their home court.

First Half Headlines

• Hustle Plays Ignite Flames: Tai Odiase poked the ball away on a Raiders 2-on-1 break, and the Flames turned the steal into a Tarkus Ferguson layup to go up 7-4 in the first minutes.  Later, Jordan Blount made a scrappy play to track down an offensive rebound, drove while avoiding contact, and made a layup of his own.
• On Fire From Downtown: Ferguson made a long three pointer, doubling up Wright State 12-6.  He had two triples as part of the Flames' 4-for-4 start from long distance.
• Taking Just 12 to Get 10: Three players – Dixson, Ferguson, and Wright State's Grant Benzinger – each reached double digits in the scoring column before the 8-minute mark.  Each of them did damage from three point range.  The trio combined to go 6-for-8 beyond the arc in the first 12 minutes.
• Responding to a Raiders Run: Clint Robinson converted an airborne putback to give the Flames their first 10-point lead of the contest.  They increased the margin to 13 before Wright State assembled a 10-1 run in just 2:13.  In less than 60 seconds, the lead was back up to 11.  Godwin Boahen made a long two-pointer; Ferguson had a steal and a nifty behind the back assist to Robinson; and Michael Diggins blocked a shot and made a three on the other end.
• Second Chance Points Boost WSU: Loudon Love scored eight of Wright State's final 10 first half points, while UIC struggled to control the defensive glass down the stretch.  Though the Flames' lead got as high as 14, the Raiders went into the locker room down by only eight.

Second Half Headlines

• Raiders Rally to Tie: Wright State went on an 8-1 run, with six of those points coming from Mark Hughes, over the first two minutes of the second half.  They induced four fouls on UIC in that span.  Though Marcus Ottey had a three point play following a layup on a nice step-through move, Wright State continued attacking the paint and tied the game at 55 moments later.
• Dixson Leads Offensive Spurt: After the Raiders took a one point lead off a Benzinger three, the Flames held WSU without a field goal for over four minutes.  Dixson turned up the offense with six straight UIC points, and the home team reclaimed a five point lead.
• Matthews Flips the Scoreboard: The Raiders took control of the middle stages of the half.  A 10-1 run punctuated by layups from Love and Gentry put them up by four, 72-68.  Dominique Matthews halted that momentum in a flash with back to back threes, the second from NBA range.
• Costly Miscue Seals Flames' Fate: The teams traded the lead until the final minute.  Wright State forced the Flames to defend an extra long possession by grabbing an offensive rebound and milking the shot clock until Everett Winchester made a short jumper.  The Flames quickly turned the ball over, and the Raiders got the dagger with just 20 seconds to play, on another Winchester shot with one second on the shot clock.

Postgame Reaction

Steve McClain


Clint Robinson & Tai Odiase

 
Facts and Figures

• The Flames shot 65.6 percent  (21-for-32) in the first half.  It was their best half of the season, and their fifth half over 60 percent. All five came in Horizon League play.
• UIC made only six field goals after halftime and shot 23 percent.
• UIC's 81 points were the most the team scored in a loss this season. Their output tied the most the Raiders, who were second in the Horizon League in scoring defense, allowed in conference play.
• Wright State owned a 43-34 rebounding advantage. They had 18 offensive rebounds to the Flames' nine, and outscored UIC 27-13 in second chance points.
• The visitors held a significant advantage in the paint as well, with a 44-28 edge.
• The loss was UIC's first of the season after leading at the half.  They had been 14-0 with a halftime lead.
• UIC finished 10-7 at home.
• Love's double-double (23 points, 15 rebounds) was the first by a Flames opponent since February 8, when Youngstown State's Braun Hartfield had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
• After going four straight games with less than 10 points, Tarkus Ferguson has scored in double digits in two straight.
• Dixson led the team in scoring for the 13^th time, more often than any other Flame.

Up Next

• UIC will enter the Horizon League tournament as the No. 3 seed.
• UIC's opponent will be No. 6 Milwaukee.  The Flames will open the tournament on Sunday, March 4 at 4:00 Central at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
• The Flames finished third in the Horizon League standings with a 12-6 record.  Northern Kentucky (15-3) and Wright State (14-4) are the top two seeds.