Jan. 17, 2008
Box Score
Chicago, Ill.- A strong offensive effort by the UIC men's basketball team was not enough as the Flames were edged by Wright State, 76-75, at the UIC Pavilion on Thursday night.
UIC falls to 9-8 overall and 3-3 in the Horizon League after suffering its first home loss of the year. The defeat snapped a 10-game winning streak at the Pavilion dating back to last season.
Josh Mayo scored a game-high 21, hitting five of six attempts from downtown.
Karl White Jr. scored 20 points, the fourth time in his last five games that he has scored 19 points or more, while Tori Boyd came off the bench to chip in 11.
UIC jetted out to an early nine-point lead within the first four minutes of the game. Wright State (10-6, 3-4 Horizon League) chipped away and eventually took a 39-38 lead into halftime.
The Raiders would expand their lead in the early moments of the second half, going up by as many as 11 following a Troy Tabler three-pointer at the 13:59 mark.
The Flames would fight back, clawing to within a point on four different occasions before a runner by Mayo put the Flames up 72-71 with 1:15 remaining.
A Vaughn Duggins lay-in would put the Raiders back up by one with 54 seconds on the clock. The next Flames possession saw Mayo get an open look from deep downtown, but the shot came off the rim and back in the Raiders' grasp. Wright State would then run the shot clock down and ice the game on a deep three from the right corner by Todd Brown with nine seconds left.
Mayo splashed in a three on the other end as the final horn sounded.
Duggins led four Raiders in double figures with 19 points.
UIC shot 50 percent (11-for-22) from beyond the arc, but the visitors bested that mark with a 59.1 percent (13-for-22) clip.
The loss marked the first time UIC was outshot from the field on its home floor, as the Raiders shot 50.9 percent (29-for-57) to the Flames' 47.5 percent (28-for-59).
Four UIC players had at least three assists on Thursday.
UIC caps its three-game homestand against Detroit this Saturday at the UIC Pavilion. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 p.m.
