CHICAGO -- Four players scored in double figures for UIC, but the Flames did not have enough firepower to over Saint Joseph's on Monday night at the UIC Pavilion, falling 86-82 in overtime. It was a well-played game that featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes.

UIC (1-1) led by three with about 40 seconds to play before Saint Joseph's (1-1) Taylor Funk hit a deep 3-pointer from the left wing to tie the game at 74-74. The Flames took the last shot with Marcus Ottey getting a good look from in front of his bench, but the shot drew iron and the teams went to overtime. The extra session was knotted at 76-76, but SJU went on a 9-3 run to grab a six-point lead with under 30 seconds to go. UIC was able to extend the game and pull within three on a Tarkus Ferguson triple, but the Hawks ultimately prevailed.

UIC's Dikembe Dixson scored 23 points with a career-high five 3-pointers for the home team and Ottey netted 17 points and five rebounds off the bench.
 
Game Headlines

• Flames Fire Out of the Gate: Offense was the story early on as the teams went up and down the floor with pace and scoring was the name of the game. The score was tied at 8-8 just over three minutes into the game after a layup from Ferguson.
• First Run for UIC: UIC put together the game's first sizable run. Ferguson connected on a 3-pointer with 14:28 remaining in the half. Just over two minutes later Dominique Matthews came up with a steal and an assist to Marcus Ottey for a basket that gave the Flames a 20-15 lead, the biggest cushion for either side to that points.
• Saint Joseph's Strikes Back: Undeterred, the Hawks fired off a 13-5 run that culminated on a 3-pointer that gave the visitors the lead back with eight minutes left in the period.
• Hawks Hang on to Lead at Half: Following a timeout, Dikembe Dixson erased a 3-point deficit with one of his career-high five triples with 28.5 seconds to go in the frame. Saint Joseph's used a timeout of its own and was able to get a James Demery open under the basket for a dunk just before the horn that gave the Hawks a 42-40 lead at the brak.
• Second-Half Surge: UIC began to gain control of the contest midway through the second half. Matthews gave the Flames their first lead of the half, 54-53, when he sank a pair of free throws with 11:48 to go. The home crowd energized the squad and UIC scored seven unanswered points with baskets from Dixson, Ottey and Godwin Boahen to gain an 11-point lead, the largest for either side during the contest, with 6:48 remaining.
• Funk Starts to Feel It: Saint Joseph's freshman Taylor Funk helped spark an 11-0 run for the Hawks that knotted the score once again with 3:19 remaining. Funk scored eight of the 11 points and assisted on another basket during the comeback.
• Not So Free: UIC had a chance to extend slim leads on a few occasions down the stretch, but missed free throws played a factor in preventing that. Ottey's layup with 1:19 to go gave the home team a six-point lead. Demery missed not one, but two free throws, and Clint Robinson rebounded the second and immediately drew a foul. He missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Funk came out with the rebound. A dunk, steal and layup helped Saint Joseph's cut the deficit to two with under a minute to go. Ottey split a pair at the strip with 40 seconds to go to put the Flames ahead by three, but Funk's long 3-pointer with 26.5 remaining tied the game and eventually forced overtime.
• Flames Strike First in OT: Ferguson was fouled early on during the extra period and he sank two free throws to give UIC a 76-74 lead, however the Flames could not extend the edge as they would miss their first two field goal attempts and commit a turnover following Ferguson's freebies.
• Second Chance Success: Saint Joseph's collected four offensive rebounds in overtime and converted those second chances in overtime into seven points. The Hawks led by as many as six points in overtime before sealing a four-point win, their first of the season.

Fast Facts

• After three players scored in double figures in the season opener for UIC on Friday against North Carolina Centeal, four guys accomplished the feat Monday. Dixson led the way with 23 points, while Ottey had 17. Ferguson and Tai Odiase scored in double figures for the second time in as many games with 15 and 10 points, respectively, against Saint Joseph's.
• Dixson has scored at least 20 points in 22 of 42 career games at UIC. He's reached double digits 36 times.
• Dixson splashed home a career-high five 3-pointers against the Hawks. It was the most since making four against Youngstown State on Jan. 28, 2016.
• Odiase blocked one shot Monday. He's registered at least one rejection in 15 of UIC's last 16 games dating back to Feb. 2, 2017 at Green Bay.
• Odiase narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Five of the center's nine rebounds came on the offensive glass.
• Ferguson led all players with a game-high seven assists. The primary ball-handler had only one turnover in 37 minutes of action.
• After leading UIC with five assists in the opener, sophomore Jordan Blount was a leader on defense with a game-high four blocks.
• The loss snapped a two-game winning streak against foes from the Atlantic 10. UIC defeated George Washington on March 22, 2017 in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational, and Rhode Island on Nov. 21, 2010. The Flames are 4-7 all-time against teams from the current A10.
• Saint Joseph's had only six turnover in its first game at Toledo (Nov. 11), but the Flames forced 15 on Monday.
• UIC won the turnover battle for the second time this season, committing 12 Monday to SJU's 15.

Up Next

• The Flames continue a busy stretch of four home games in eight days on Thursday, Nov. 16 against Delaware State at 7 p.m. CT.
• The contest is the first of four games UIC will play as part of the 2017 Adolph Rupp Classic, hosted by Kentucky. The Flames will also host Fort Wayne (Nov. 18) and travel to Kentucky (Nov. 26) and Troy (Nov. 29) as part of the tournament.
• The Hornets (1-1) fell at DePaul Monday, 81-57. They will play at Fort Wayne on Wednesday before visiting the UIC Pavilion.
• Thursday's game will be televised on ESPN3. The broadcast team of Jonathan Hood, Sam Panayotovich and Chris Bleck will be on the call.
• Tickets are available by calling 312-413-UIC1 (8421)