Jan. 29, 2016
CHICAGO -- UIC continues its longest homestand of the season and begins the second half of Horizon League play Saturday when the Cleveland State Vikings come calling for a 3 p.m. tilt at the UIC Pavilion.
The Flames and Vikings met for the first time this season less than two weeks ago at CSU's Wolstein Center. UIC got a double-double out of sophomore center Tai Odiase that night, but it was not enough to stop Cleveland State as the green and white rolled to a 70-53 victory. The Flames were troubled by 16 turnovers on the night that led directly to 19 points for the home team. The Vikings also drilled nine 3-pointers in the win.
For more information about Saturday's rematch, please click the Game Notes PDFs above.
FLYING HIGH
All five members of UIC's starting lineup vs. Youngstown State on Thursday recorded at least one statistical career high against the Penguins. Here is a complete breakdown, with ties denoted as (t):
Dikembe Dixson:
32 points, 15 rebounds (t), 4 3-pointers (t)
Michael Kolawole:
15 points, 6 field goals, 5 assists, 38 minutes (t)
Tai Odiase:
13 rebounds
Lance Whitaker:
4 steals, 2 blocks (t)
Najeal Young:
16 rebounds, 4 assists
FINISHING STRONG
Statistically speaking, UIC has been a more productive team in the second half of games this season. The Flames have scored an average of 7.5 more points per game in the final period, while shooting better percentages from the floor (+3.6%), the free-throw line (+3%) and beyond the arc (+5.3%). On Thursday vs. Youngstown State, UIC outscored the Penguins 47-33 in the second half, while shooting 14.8% better from the floor and 45.5% better from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes. Individually, sophomore Tai Odiase has had a significant impact down the stretch as he averages 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in the second half this season compared to 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in the first. Freshman Dikembe Dixson has also provided late contributions with an average of 10.1 points in the final 20 minutes. He has also made 20 of his 28 3-pointers on the season in the second half this year.
HORIZON LEAGUE'S FINEST FRESHMAN
UIC newcomer Dikembe Dixson has not only been one of the most prolific freshmen in the Horizon League, but one of its top players overall. The Freeport, Ill., native ranks fourth overall in scoring with 17.3 ppg, sixth in rebounding with 7.2 rpg and 15th in shot blocking with 0.6 bpg. The forward is currently one of three players from any class, and the lone freshman, to rank among the conference's top 15 in all three of those categories. NKU's Jalen Billups is ninth in scoring, 10th in rebounding and fourth in blocked shots, and Oakland's Jalen Hayes is 11th in scoring, third in rebounding and 13th in blocked shots.
HERE COMES KOLAWOLE
UIC freshman Michael Kolawole has emerged as a key contributor since the onset of Horizon League play. The Rowlett, Texas, native has been the team's best shooter from beyond the arc and one of the best from the field (28-of-69; 40.6%) in nine conference games, while ranking second with 8.7 points per game. Kolawole, who scored a career-high 15 points and picked up a personal-best five assists Thursday, averaged 2.3 ppg in non-conference play. He is averaging 23.0 minutes per game over the last nine contests, up from 7.9 mpg prior to Jan. 2.
MINUTE MEN
Freshman Dikembe Dixson leads UIC, and ranks third in the Horizon League, in playing time this season with 699 minutes, or 35.0 minutes per game. He played a career-high 42 minutes in an overtime game at Northern Kentucky on Jan. 22, and he leads all players in conference games with 39.0 minutes per Horizon League tilt. Dixson has played 39 minutes or more six times, and 40 or more four times, including each of the last three games. Over the last three games, UIC starters have played 512 of a possible 625 minutes (81.9%).
LINEUP SHUFFLE
UIC head coach Steve McClain has used 12 different starting lineup combinations in 20 games. The group used to open the last three games (Dikembe Dixson, Michael Kolawole, Tai Odiase, Lance Whitaker and Najeal Young) has been used four times total, and the quintet owns 90 combined starts. If that same group starts once more together, it will be the most-used opening combination this season. In total, 11 different Flames have received a starting nod at least once this year, but only Odiase and Dixson have opened all 20 games.
#SuitsAndSneakers
UIC head coach Steve McClain and members of his coaching staff will be donning adidas sneakers on their feet Saturday to promote an important cause, Coaches vs. Cancer. Coaches vs. Cancer is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches that empowers basketball coaches, teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
UP NEXT
The Flames will have a week off from competition before hitting the hardwood again on Saturday, Feb. 6 against the Valparaiso Crusaders at 3 p.m. UIC and Valpo met in Indiana to ignite the Horizon League schedule on Jan. 2. For tickets to the rematch, please call 312-413-UIC1 (8421) or visit Ticketmaster today.
