LEXINGTON, Ky. -- UIC (2-3) was undone by a season-high 21 turnovers and the Flames fell to No. 8 Kentucky (6-1) at Rupp Arena, 107-73.

Godwin Boahen led five UIC players who scored in double figures with a season-high 17 points, while Tai Odiase added 15 points, a game-high eight rebounds and three blocks for the Flames.

Game Headlines

• Kentucky Creates Early Separation: UIC led very early on, 3-2, after Dominique Matthews hit a 3-pointer from the corner less than 30 seconds into the game. Nick Richards followed with a dunk that gave Kentucky a lead it would not relinquish. The Wildcats soon unleashed 10 unanswered points to take a 20-7 lead.
• Boahen's Boost: Sophomore Godwin Boahen provided a spark off the bench when he checked in at the 14:58 mark of the first half. The guard converted an old-fashioned 3-point play with a circus layup off the top of the glass and he later drew a charge on UK's Hamidou Diallo. He would go on to lead the Flames with 12 points in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. Boahen added a pair of rebounds in 10 minutes of action.
• Chipping Away: The Wildcats built a lead of as many as 19 points in the first half, but the Flames would not relent. UIC used back-to-back baskets inside from Odiase and Boahen to trim the deficit to 13 with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. However the Wildcats would lead by 17 at the break after Boahen buried two free throws in the waning seconds of the half.
• Taking Advantage: UIC turned the ball over a season-high 21 times, including 12 in the first half. Over the first 20 minutes, Kentucky converted those miscues to 20 points. The Wildcats themselves coughed it up eight times in the first half, but the Flames netted only 11 points off the turnovers.
• Paint Crew: Kentucky dominated the painted area Sunday evening. The Wildcats scored 60 points in the paint, including 34 in the second half. The Flames were only able to score 34 points in the paint for the entire game. UIC scored 22 of the 34 in the second half.
• New Look: UIC head coach Steve McClain implemented a different look to start the second half than he did to open the game. Starters Odiase and Dikembe Dixson were on the court and were joined by Clint Robinson, Michael Diggins and Boahen. The group generated some good early offense and it cut UK's lead to 16 with 15:10 to go after Boahen stepped into another 3-pointer.
• 'Cats Claw Away: Kentucky's lead eclipsed 30 points for the first time when Diallo converted a pair of free throws with 7:09 remaining. UIC would come no closer than 34 points the rest of the way before the eighth-ranked Wildcats won by that same margin.

 Notables

• A season-high five players scored in double figures for UIC. Boahen (17), Odiase (15) and Robinson (10) each had season highs in the scoring column. Dixson eclipsed double digits (14) for the third time this season and Matthews hit the mark (12) for the second time.
• Boahen became the first player to lead the Flames in scoring for a second time this season. He also had a team-high 15 points in the season opener against North Carolina Central.
• UIC's bench outscored the opposition for the fourth time in five games this season, besting the Wildcats, 32-23. The reserves are averaging 29.4 points per game for the Flames.
• Odiase tied for the game lead with three blocks. He is up 11 on the season and 260 for his career as he looks to pass Scott VanderMeer atop UIC's all-time list. VanderMeer owns 273 blocks in a Flames uniform.
• Odiase also led all players with eight rebounds Sunday. Five of the eight caroms came on the offensive glass. While Kentucky won the overall battle on the boards, 37-33, UIC edged the hosts on the offensive end, 15-10.
• The 107 points netted by the Wildcats were the most in two-plus seasons under head coach Steve McClain.
• Sunday night's attendance at legendary Rupp Arena was 20,212.

Postgame Reaction

 

Up Next

• UIC will play its final game of the Adolph Rupp Classic on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Troy. The game will tip at 7 p.m. CT and be streamed live on ESPN3.
• It will be the first-ever meeting on the hardwood between the Flames and Trojans.
• Jonathan Hood will provide the hometown call via free audio stream on UICFlames.com.