CHICAGO – UIC was nearly on fire Saturday night as it shot close to 56 percent from the field, while six different Flames netted double figures as squad blew past Trinity Christian in a preliminary game of the NIU Thanksgiving Classic at the UIC Pavilion, 102-66.
 
UIC junior Tai Odiase scored a game-high 20 points, while fellow starters Dikembe Dixson (18) and Marcus Ottey (12) also reached double digits in the scoring column against the Trolls. Dominique Matthews (15), Clint Robinson (14) and Michael Kolawole (10) each reached the mark, as well, while providing a spark off the bench.
 
As a team the Flames shot 55.7 percent (34-of-61) from the field in the game, and north of 60 percent (17-of-28) during the final 20 minutes. The squad accumulated 21 assists in the victory, while forcing 18 turnovers on the defensive end of the floor.
 
With just over two minutes to go in the contest, UIC freshman Godwin Boahen rolled in a layup that took the Flames from 99 points to 101. It marked the first time any UIC squad scored at least 100 points in a game since the 2002-03 team netted 102 in a 10-point victory over Milwaukee on Jan. 9, 2003.
 
How It Happened

• In a tight game early, Matthews provided an early boost off the bench for UIC. The redshirt freshman entered the game at the 14:04 mark with UIC ahead by four points. The Chicagoan then proceeded to score a quick 10 points over a span of 3:32 to lift his team up.
• Trinity Christian had only one turnover through the game's first 12:17. Then on back-to-back possessions, Kolawole and Tarkus Ferguson each came up with a steal and a breakaway basket to expand the lead to nine points, 34-25, with 7:17 remaining in the first period.
• The Flames really turned up the heat over the final three-plus minutes of the first half. UIC closed the first stanza on a 15-2 run over the last 3:06, and a 9-0 run over the final 1:20, to build a 16-point lead at the break, the largest of the night to that point.
• The Trolls had sliced their deficit to four points before Odiase converted a pair of free throws to begin the statement surge.
• Kolawole scored seven of his 10 first-half points in the final 80 seconds of the half, helping the home team to a 52-36 lead at the break.
• Odiase scored the first four points of the second half, the latter pair coming on a vicious dunk that pushed the advantage up to 20 points.
• Later, a 7-0 run that featured dunks from Robinson and K.J. Santos, plus a free throw from Robinson and a layup from Dixson helped UIC gain a 73-49 lead with 12:55 remaining in the contest.
• UIC pushed its cushion above 30 points for the first time on a 3-pointer from Boahen with 8:34 remaining.
• Boahen's layup that put UIC over 100 points also provided a 38-point lead, the largest of the night.

 
Beyond The Box Score

• Matthews scored a season-high 15 points. It was his most prolific offensive effort since netting 10 points against Purdue Calumet on Dec. 22, 2015.
• It was the third time in his third season that Odiase reached at least 20 points in a game. Last time the Glenwood, Ill., native last did so when he scored 22 points during a double-overtime decision at Youngstown State on Feb. 16, 2016.
• Odiase shot 88.9 percent from the field as he made his first eight attempts Saturday before his ninth and final effort rolled out.
• Kolawole, who scored a season-high 10 points, was 4-for-4 from the field against the Trolls.
• Robinson made 10 of his 13 attempts from the free-throw line. After opening the season by making 1-of-7 from the charity stripe at San Francisco, the junior is shooting 79 percent (15-of-18) from the line over the last two UIC games.
• Robinson scored a career-high 14 points, besting his previous mark by nine (5 vs. UTSA on Nov. 16).
• UIC has won consecutive games for the second time in the young Steve McClain era. The Flames claimed victory in back-to-back Horizon League games on Feb. 11 and Feb. 13, 2015 against Wright State and Northern Kentucky, respectively.
• It was the first time in McClain's tenure that six players scored in double figures, and the second that at least five accomplished the feat.
• Tarkus Ferguson dished out a team-high five assists and did so without a turnover in 21 minutes.
• The Flames used all 11 players who were available for the game, and 10 of 11 scored in the game.
• No UIC player was in the game for more than 27 minutes. Santos led the team with 27 minutes, while Dixson was second with 25.

 
What's Next?

• UIC will continue the NIU Thanksgiving Classic on Wednesday, Nov. 23, when it travels to DeKalb, Ill. The Flames will meet Elon on Wednesday afternoon before coming back after Thanksgiving to tussle with Cal Poly (Nov. 25) and the NIU Huskies (Nov. 25).
• The Flames have never faced Elon, nor Cal Poly. UIC is 24-15 in the all-time series against NIU.
• UIC won its last contest at the Convocation Center, 58-46, on Nov. 21, 2012.