Feb. 15, 2016
CHICAGO -- UIC will look to extend a two-game winning streak to three on Tuesday, Feb. 16, when it visits the Youngstown State Penguins at the Beeghly Center for a 6:05 p.m. CST affair. The game will be the first contest away from home for the Flames since Jan. 24.
In the first meeting between the two squads on Jan. 28, Youngstown State roared out to a 24-point lead in the first half thanks to 10 early 3-point baskets. UIC solidified its perimeter defense and cranked its offense into gear in the second half, and the Flames had the deficit to a mere two points in the final 30 seconds of action. The Penguins converted their free throws down the stretch and exited the Windy City with an 82-78 win.
The two teams have seemingly headed in different directions since the first meeting in January. UIC has won three of its four games since last seeing the Penguins, while YSU has fallen short in its last four contests. The Flames lead the all-time series, 25-11, however, the Penguins have won the last two meetings and four of the last five.
LAST TIME OUT
Four UIC players scored in double figures as the Flames came from behind and closed out the Northern Kentucky Norse, 79-77, for their second consecutive win Saturday. Freshman Dikembe Dixson tied for game-high honors with 21 points, while Gabe Snider added 12 points on four key 3-point shots. Tai Odiase was a force on both ends of the floor as he nearly completed a triple-double behind 12 points, eight rebounds and nine a career-high nine blocks. Odiase's final stuff came in the waning seconds as the Norse tried to tie the game and force an extra session.
TAKE TWO...OR THREE
The second half of the Horizon League slate has been fruitful for UIC thus far. The Flames are 3-1 since the second set of league games began on Jan. 30. The surge began with an overtime victory against Cleveland State on Jan. 30, but after a week off, UIC fell to first-place Valparaiso on Feb. 6. The Flames bounced back, however, to close out a season-long five-game homestand with back-to-back triumphs over Wright State (64-59) and Northern Kentucky (79-77) last weekend. Thanks to those recent victories, UIC currently owns the Horizon League's longest active win streak.
PAINT PROTECTOR
UIC sophomore Tai Odiase blocked a career-high nine shots Saturday against NKU as he continues his meteroic rise through the program's all-time record book. The effort matched the best single-game output in program history. Odiase, who now owns 119 career rejections in 52 games, moved past Nate Chambers ('84-'88) Thursday and into sixth place on the program's career leaderboard for blocks. He is currently 14 blocks shy of fifth place, which belongs to Joe Scott ('99-'04). The Glenwood, Ill., native has rejected 71 shots this season, which places him fourth all-time among the school's single-season leaders. As of Monday, Odiase leads the Horizon League and ranks seventh nationally with 2.96 blocks per game. He was named Horizon League Co-Player of the Week on Feb. 15.
SNIDER THE SNIPER
Gabe Snider returned to the rotation on Feb. 11 after missing UIC's first 11 Horizon League games. His comeback has provided a long-distance threat. The Chicagoan buried four 3-pointers against Northern Kentucky on Saturday, giving him 17 triples in 12 games this season. Snider has made only three shots from the field when his feet weren't beyond the arc. His shooting percentage from downtown (38.6) ranks tops among UIC players with at least five attempts.
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 7.6 more points per game in the final period, while shooting better percentages from the floor (+4.7%), the free-throw line (+3.6%) and beyond the arc (+8%). On Saturday vs. NKU, the Flames scored 13 more points in the second half while shooting 16.1 percent better from the field, 13.5 percent better from the free-throw line and an eye-popping 37.4 percent better from 3-point range. Individually, sophomore Tai Odiase has had a significant impact down the stretch as he averages 5.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in the second half this season compared to 3.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in the first. Freshman Dikembe Dixson has also provided late contributions with an average of 10.8 points in the final 20 minutes. He has also made 24 of his 35 3-pointers on the season in the second half of games this year.
FLYING HIGH
All five UIC starters vs. Youngstown State on Jan. 28 recorded at least one statistical career high [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)
*Set new mark with 16 points vs. Valpo on Feb. 6
Tai Odiase: 13 rebounds
Lance Whitaker: 4 steals, 2 blocks (t)
Najeal Young: 16 rebounds, 4 assists
UP NEXT
The Flames will close out the home portion of the 2015-16 schedule with home games against Detroit and Oakland on Friday and Sunday, respectively. There will be a special pregame ceremony prior to Friday's 7 p.m. game against the Titans when UIC retires Kenny Williams' No. 11. Tickets are still available for the special night, and can be obtained by calling 312-413-UIC1 (8421) or by visiting Ticketmaster now.
For more notes and information about Tuesday's tilt, please click on the game notes PDFs above.
