Box Score Dec. 5, 2015 Box Score
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Freshman Dikembe Dixson scored a career-high 22 points, but it was not enough Saturday as the UIC Flames dropped a nonconference tilt to Central Florida at CFE Arena, 88-58.
Dixson erupted in the second half after being held to only two points on 1-of-4 shooting from the floor in 14 minutes of first-half action. In the second stanza, the Freeport, Ill., native scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds against the Knights. It marked the second time that a UIC player eclipsed 20 points in a single game this season. Sophomore Tai Odiase netted a career-high 23 points on Nov. 24 vs. Roosevelt.
The home team got off to a quick start as it scored 13 of the game's first 14 points in the opening six minutes of action. Trailing by 12, UIC kept battling hard and it orchestrated a 9-4 run that chopped the deficit down to seven points with 10:40 to go in the opening half. Najeal Young provided a spark off the bench with six of the nine points during that surge.
UCF countered with a 12-2 run over the next six-or-so minutes to go ahead by 17 points. A 3-pointer by Paris Burns later in the frame trimmed Knights' lead to 14 points, but the visiting team could come no closer.
UIC shot 29 percent in the first 20 minutes, while the Knights were able to find the bottom of the net with more regularity. UCF shot 44.4 percent in the first half and turned the ball over only three times. The Flames were hampered by nine miscues, which UCF converted into 12 points. The bench also came up big for the Knights in the first half, scoring 22 points to help establish a 43-21 lead at the break.
Young was the leading scorer for the visitors in the first half, matching a career high with eight points in 11 minutes of action off the bench. The junior also led the way on the glass with five of the team's 19 rebounds.
UIC made four more field goals in the second half than it did in the first, but Central Florida continued to roll as well. The Knights shot 46.7 percent in the final half and they committed one fewer turnover, two, than they did in the first. UCF committed the fewest amount of turnovers -- five -- of any Flames opponent through six games.
In addition to Dixson, Odiase was in double figures in the scoring column with 10 points Saturday. He also added seven rebounds, all of which came on the offensive glass. UIC registered a season-high 27 offensive rebounds as a team.
The Flames will take a week-long break from competition for fall exams. UIC will next be in action on Saturday, Dec. 12, when they host the Illinois Fighting Illini at the home of the NBA's Chicago Bulls, the United Center. Limited tickets are available for the in-state showdown by calling 312-413-UIC1.
UIC Notes: UIC has used six different starting lineups through six games ... Saturday's group has made a combined 23 starts this season, including this game ... Najeal Young scored eight points in the first half to match a career high ... Dikembe Dixson led the Flames in scoring for the third time this season ... Dixson was the leading rebounder for the third time as well ... UIC lost for the first time this season when out-rebounding the opposition ... The Flames eclipsed 50 rebounds for the second time this season ... Tai Odiase has blocked at least one shot in 28 of 34 career games.
