CHICAGO – UIC led throughout the evening during its home opener Wednesday night as it knocked off the UTSA Roadrunners, 86-78, for the first victory of the young season.
 
Sophomore sensation Dikembe Dikson led the way in the scoring column and on the boards for the Flames as he poured in 31 points and corralled nine rebounds to lead all players in both categories. He also came up with a career-high five steals, while teammate Tai Odiase blocked an eye-popping eight shots.
 
How It Happened:

• UTSA led 6-5 in the early going before Dixson came up with a steal and took a pretty feed from freshman Godwin Boahen to flush a dunk, giving the Flames the lead for good with 13:49 remaining in the first half.
• UIC's lead hit double digits for the first time in the contest when Tarkus Ferguson rattled home a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 9:32 remaining.
• The Flames inflated their lead to as many as 14 points during the opening period, thanks to intense defensive pressure. The Roadrunners were hampered by 14 first-half turnovers, leading to 14 points for the home team.
• UTSA mounted a late rally in the first half as a 9-2 run sliced the deficit to six points with just over one minute remaining.
• UIC led 38-32 at the half.
• The defensive effort intensified as the second half began. Using a swarm of pressure, UIC got its lead back to double digits, 10, following a 6-0 run that featured a Marcus Ottey layup and another big slam from Dixson.
• The Roadrunners could not find a rhythm on either end of the floor as UIC nabbed a game-high lead of 17 points with 11:18 remaining after Dixson poked an errant pass away and glided to the rim for another highlight-reel conversion.
• UTSA eventually pulled to within six points with 5:22 remaining, but Dixson scored once again , and the Flames methodically built the lead back up to as many as 15 points.
• The Roadrunners did convert three 3-point shots in the final 45 second of play, but the Flames made five free throws during that stretch to salt the game away with a final score of 86-78.

 
Beyond The Box Score:

• Dixson scored at least 30 points for the third time in 32 career collegiate games. He was also one rebound shy of registering his eighth double-double.
• The Matewan, W. Va., native came up with a career-high five steals in the victory.
• Tai Odiase blocked a season-high eight shots, despite being limited to 21 minutes. He passed Dave Williams to move into third place on UIC's all-time blocks list with 157.
• Through two games UIC is averaging 83 points per game and 43 rebounds per contest.
• UIC head coach Steve McClain used 11 players in the game and 10 of those Flames scored at least two points.
• McClain used the same starting lineup as he employed at San Francisco: Odiase, Dixson, Ferguson, Ottey and K.J. Santos.
• Dominique Matthews was the first player off the bench against UTSA, marking the second time this season he's held that distinction. The redshirt freshman started the second half in place of Ferguson.
• The Flames shot 50 percent from beyond the arc (4-of-8) in the first half, but they missed all six attempts from downtown in the second.
• Two freshmen – Ottey and Ferguson – netted career highs in the scoring column with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
• UIC retired No. 44, belonging to the late Chuck Lambert, during a ceremony at halftime. Members of his family were in attendance and his mother spoke to the crowd.
• The game was played before a spirited crowd of 3,571.

 
What's Next?

• UIC will wrap up a brief two-game homestand on Saturday night when it hosts Trinity Christian in a play-in game for the NIU Thanksgiving Classic. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
• The contest against the Trolls begins a busy stretch of four games in eight days, a span that includes three tilts in DeKalb, Ill., beginning next Wednesday.