Final Stats: Valpo 85, UIC 56

VALPARAISO, Ind. - The UIC men's basketball team (5-13, 1-2 HL) dropped a Horizon League road game at Valparaiso (15-3, 2-1 HL) on Thursday night by a final score of 85-56. Senior Ahman Fells equaled a career-high with 13 points on 5-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-6 from the outside. Fells now has four straight double-digit scoring efforts.

"We were outplayed in every facet of the game," said head coach Howard Moore. "We are down a few guys right now but that's no excuse. We will take the weekend to adjust a few things and come ready to play Detroit next week."

The Flames were once again without the services of 6-foot-9 forwards Jason McClellan and Tai Odiase due to injury. Valpo was able to take advantage of UIC's lack of height on the interior as VU scored 50 points in the paint. Crusader center Vashil Fernandez notched a career-high 15 points and added eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

"Fernandez was aggressive especially in the early part of the game," said Moore. "That was obviously their strategy tonight and it worked out."

The Flames held a 12-8 lead after fifth-year senior Jay Harris sank a three just over four minutes into the game. Harris finished the night with eight points, but had to sit a good portion of the first half after picking up two quick fouls. Junior Jake Wiegand was also limited in the first period with a pair of early whistles.

Valpo eventually took the lead back after sophomore Alec Peters converted a three-point play at the 14:25 mark. The Crusaders closed out the first half on a 16-8 run and went into the break ahead 47-32.

Fells sank a triple to start the second half, but Valpo used a 13-3 spurt to go up by 22 (60-38) with 16:19 left to play. The Crusaders outscored the Flames, 38-24, in the final period and shot more than 60 percent (32-of-53) for the game.

Sophomore Markese McGuire gave UIC eight points and two treys, while junior Paris Burns added seven points and four assists. Sophomore Hans-Christian Lauer grabbed a career-high five rebounds and chipped in four points.

UIC returns to action at home on Wednesday (Jan. 14) against Detroit with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.