CHICAGO -- Tarkus Ferguson recorded a triple-double, and Jordan Blount had a career high 27 points, to lead UIC to a 94-75 victory over Illinois State Wednesday night at Credit Union 1 Arena.  Ferguson's 14 points, career high 12 rebounds, and season high-tying 11 assists made him the second Flame ever to achieve the feat after teammate Godwin Boahen pulled it off in 2016.

After Illinois State whittled an 11 point halftime deficit down to one, behind a career high-tying 30 points from Milik Yarbrough, the Flames found another gear on both ends of the court.  UIC shot 55.7% and scored 28 points off of turnovers – with the Redbirds' 17 giveaways marking the season high by Flames opponents.  Once their lead got down to one, the Flames went on a 16-2 run, and never led by less than 12 points the rest of the night.

First-Half Highlights

• Feast or Famine: When the Flames could hold on to the ball, they engineered a fast start.  The team made six of its first seven shots, with four turnovers sprinkled in the six and a half minute span.  Jordan Blount had two steals to help mitigate the damage, but Illinois State scored six points off those Flames turnovers to stay in the game.
• Boahen Breaks Out: Godwin Boahen finished the first half a perfect 4-for-4 from three point distance and handed out three assists, one of which was a beautiful bounce pass dropped right into the hands of Michael Diggins for an and-one layup that gave the Flames their first double-digit lead of the game at 22-12.
• Treading Water: Boahen stroked another triple to increase the margin to 13, but ISU responded with a quick 6-0 run to close the gap to seven.  Though the Redbirds got four free throws from Rey Idowu in the possessions following that run, Jamie Ahale knocked down a three to keep the Flames' margin at seven.
• Caught Up in the Hype: Boahen stayed in the middle of things, this time initiating the offense with a rebound and a quick outlet pass.  Blount finished that fast break with a nifty behind the head layup, and on the next possession Boahen found Tarkus Ferguson with a pass down the baseline for a 3.  Those highlight reel plays wowed the Credit Union 1 Arena crowd, but failed to impress the Redbirds, who stayed in it with two threes of their own by Josh Jefferson.  A spate of Flames turnovers enabled the visitors to tie the game at 34.
• Righting the Ship: After getting back on track from distance, with threes by Ferguson and Blount, the Flames did work in the paint to rebuild their lead.  Diggins fed Blount underneath, then Rob Howard grabbed a steal and finished the break himself with a jackhammer slam.  The Flames had a late 11-0 run which pushed their lead back to 13.

Second-Half Highlights

• All Yarbrough: Yarbrough went on a personal 11-2 run, including two 3s, immediately out of the second half gate to get his team's deficit down to 2.  Later, his jumper brought ISU within one before Blount worked the lane to get a layup, Howard picked Yarbrough's pocket, and Boahen swished a 3 to give the Flames a little more breathing room with a six point lead.
• Effort from JB: Blount easily surpassed his previous career high of 17 points, but he made an impact on both ends of the floor.  In between a Eurostep through the lane for a layin and finding the open spot in the middle of ISU's zone defense for a 12-footer, he came crashing to the floor with a defensive rebound forcing a held ball and giving the Flames possession.
• Taking Control: Diggins rocked the rim on an alley-oop from Ferguson, and on the next trip down the floor he was the beneficiary of the extra pass around the horn for an open three.  Ferguson turned a near-turnover at midcourt into a driving layup, and Blount made the highlight reel with an offensive rebound and-one, as the Flames dominated the final 10 minutes.
• Chasing History: Ferguson completed his triple-double with a rebound of Jefferson's three-point miss at the 4:26 mark.

Game Highlights



Postgame Reaction

Head Coach Steve McClain:


Jordan Blount and Tarkus Ferguson:


Notables

• In addition to his triple-double, Ferguson has a team-high three double-doubles on the season.
• Ferguson notched the 11^th triple-double in the NCAA this season, and the second by a Horizon League player (Drew McDonald, Northern Kentucky).
• The 19-point margin of victory was UIC's second largest of the year.
• Blount led the Flames with 27 points. 
• Boahen was right behind him with 22 on just nine attempts, making all six of his 3-pointers.  He is the fifth player to make six in a game under Steve McClain, and the first to do so without a miss.
• Michael Diggins matched his career high with 12 points.
• UIC placed four players in double figures for the sixth time this season.
• UIC made nine of its first 11 shots on its way to a 60% (18-30) effort for the first half.  They cooled off only slightly after halftime, finishing the game with a 55.7% make rate.
• The hot shooting extended beyond the arc.  UIC's 8-for-15 (53.3%) showing from distance in the first 20 minutes paved the way for a 42.3% showing on the evening.
• The Flames had a narrow edge on the glass, 34-31, and in second chance points, 11-8.  They dominated in the paint with a 44-30 margin.
• UIC's 11-point halftime lead matched their largest margin of the season (Duquesne, Nov. 12).
• Nine of the 10 Flames to play scored at least one point, with the 10^th – Ralph Bissainthe – contributing with an assist in his one minute of action.
• Yarbrough's 30 points marked the fourth 30-point effort against UIC this year.

Up Next

• The Flames will visit Colorado on Saturday.
• It will be the first-ever meeting between the programs.
• Tipoff will be at 5:00 pm Central, with coverage on the Pac 12 Network.