Box Score Nov. 28, 2015 Box Score
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Three UIC players scored in double figures for the second consecutive game Saturday, but the Flames could not overcome Drake's high-powered offensive attack as the Bulldogs posted an 83-62 victory at the Knapp Center.
The Bulldogs shot 52.5 percent from the field in the ballgame, while sinking 10 of their 19 3-point attempts. UIC, on the other hand, was slowed by a season-high 20 turnovers, which led to 21 points for Drake.
UIC scored the game's first two baskets with the second coming when Jake Wiegand knifed inside and scored on a pretty feed from Dikembe Dixson. Drake went on a 10-2 run, however, to grab a four-point lead at the first media timeout with 15:55 to go in the period.
Drake surged ahead 13-8 before a five-point run featuring a triple from Lance Whitaker and a baseline drive and basket by Najeal Young evened the ledger once again with 12:05 to go in the stanza. The Bulldogs continued to connect with regularity as they built and eight-point lead, but six points from Dixson and a 3-pointer by Markese McGuire combined to even the score at 23 points each with 5:21 to go in the first half. Dixson chipped in with eight points in the first 20 minutes and a team-high three rebounds.
The teams traded baskets with UIC's Whitaker drilling his second 3-pointer of the half with 35.4 seconds to go to trim a seven-point deficit to four points. The Flames turned to a zone defense out of a timeout to prevent a good look, but the Bulldogs were able to get to the line and sink a pair of free throws with a handful of seconds to go to take a 36-30 lead into the locker room at the half.
Whitaker scored a season-high 10 points in the first half, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field with the two efforts from distance. Dixson added eight points in the final eight minutes of the half, plus a team-high three rebounds.
The Flames made only one of their first seven shots to begin the second half, which helped Drake go on a 10-2 run over the first 4:09 of the frame. Tai Odiase made UIC's lone basket during the stretch.
UIC fell behind by 18 points with 14:37 to go in the game, but a 7-0 run featuring points from Dominique Matthews, Young and Drew Hackett over the span of 1:49 chopped that down to 11 with 12:51 remaining. The Flames got behind by 15 points once again, but the squad collected a few more defensive stops and eventually trimmed the deficit back down to single digits (9) after Wiegand drained a pair of free throws with 7:51 to go. Drake scored five unanswered, however, and did not look back en route to an 83-62 victory.
The Flames shot the ball slightly better in the second half, but the Bulldogs continued to convert at a clip above 50 percent. DU also shot 66 percent from 3-point territory in the second half to help create the necessary distance to seal the win.
Dixson paced the UIC offense with 13 points, while also leading the way on the glass with six rebounds. Wiegand finished the afternoon with 11 points, while Whitaker closed with 10 points, four boards and a steal. Hackett contributed seven points, three rebounds and a team-high two steals in 22 strong minutes off the bench. Odiase, one of the nation's leading shot blockers, added two more to his year-long tally Saturday.
The Flames return home on Wednesday, Dec. 2 for a crosstown clash against the DePaul Blue Demons at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 312-413-UIC1 or by visiting Ticketmaster today.
UIC Notes: UIC has used four different starting lineups through four games ... Dikembe Dixson, Tai Odiase and Jake Wiegand have started all four games for the Flames ... Lance Whitaker made his second consecutive started and scored a season-high 10 points ... Dominique Matthews returned to the floor after missing the last three games. He scored three points and added three rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench ... Odiase entered the game ranked 15th nationally in blocks per game and he added two more Saturday ... Dixson led the Flames in scoring for the second time in four games and in rebounding for the second-straight contest ... Seven Flames corralled at least three rebounds and four had at least two on the offensive end ... The Flames dropped to 0-2 away from the UIC Pavilion.
