Box Score Feb. 26, 2016 Box Score
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- In the penultimate game of the 2015-16 regular season, the Green Bay Phoenix made the most of their second opportunities to knock off the UIC Flames at the Resch Center Friday night, 85-69.
The Phoenix corralled 24 offensive rebounds and capitalized on those caroms to score 24 second-chance points against the Flames. Green Bay also elevated its effort from beyond the arc in the second half, connecting on eight of its 19 3-point attempts in the final period after sinking just one of 12 in the first 20 minutes.
UIC overcame a sloppy start, a series of miscues and a 10-point deficit in the first half. Green Bay pressured the Flames into 11 first-half turnovers as the home team built an 18-8 lead over the first nine minutes and change. A pair of quick 3-point baskets, the first from Lance Whitaker and the second from Gabe Snider, helped trimmed the deficit to four less than a minute later.
Snider's second 3-pointer of the half, this one from deep in the left corner, gave UIC its first lead since a 2-0 advantage with just over six minutes to go in the period. The teams went back and forth, but the Flames were held off the scoreboard over the final 2:35 of the half, allowing the Phoenix to take a 32-31 lead into the locker room at the half.
Green Bay scored 13 of its 32 points off UIC turnovers, but the Phoenix hit just one of 12 shots from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes. The Flames shot 45.5 percent from long distance with Snider, Whitaker and Michael Kolawole all contributing.
UIC went ahead by a bucket, 36-34, when Dikembe Dixson scored on a jump shot less than two minutes in. A pair of triples for the home teams and a barrage of defensive pressure helped the Phoenix push the cushion back to nine points, 52-43, with 12:15 remaining in the contest.
A Flames free throw by Hassan Thomas sparked a 13-4 surge that ended with another nifty bucket from Dixson, which tied the game at 56 points apiece with 8:21 remaining. Green Bay's Khalil Small knocked down a 3-pointer on the next possession, however, and UIC could not come closer than four points the rest of the way.
Dixson led all players with 22 points as he shot 50 percent (9-of-18) from the field in the game. It was the sixth consecutive contest in which the Freeport, Ill., native netted at least 20 points, and it was the 15th time in 28 career games that he accomplished that feat. The newcomer also chipped in with four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 38 minutes of action for the Flames.
UIC also got a big contribution on both ends of the floor from center Tai Odiase. The sophomore poured in 13 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to secure his fifth double-double of the season and the sixth of his career. The nation's leading shot blocker turned away a game-high three shots and swiped a career-best four steals. The four steals doubled his previous best effort, which happened three other times.
Snider was a spark off the bench with 13 points in 18 minutes. It was the fourth time in 16 games this season that the senior went for double digits in the scoring column. He made a trio of 3-pointers and a career-high four free throws for the Flames.
The Flames will put a bow on the 2015-16 regular season on Sunday, Feb. 28 with a game against the Milwaukee Panthers at UWM Arena. The contest, which tips off at 2 p.m., will be televised on the American Sports Network. Locally, it can be seen on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. On radio, the game can be heard on ESPN1000 Chicago and ESPNChicago.com.
UIC Notes: UIC started the game with Dikembe Dixson, Michael Kolawole, Tai Odiase, Lance Whitaker and Najeal Young, marking the 12th time this season, and 11th consecutive outing, that head coach Steve McClain has opened with that group ... It is the most-frequently used grouping of the season ... Dixson and Odiase have each started all 28 games ... Dixson has scored 20-plus points 15 times in 28 career games ... Gabe Snider scored 13 of UIC's 16 points off the bench ... The game featured 11 lead changes and eight tie scores ... Odiase has blocked at least three shots in six consecutive games ... Odiase's four steals mark the third time this season a UIC player recorded as many in a game this season.
