BOULDER, Colo. – UIC faced adversity in all forms Saturday afternoon and the Flames were unable to complete a ferocious comeback before falling on the road to the Colorado Buffaloes, 84-72.

The Flames (4-6) shot the ball well all day long inside the CU Events Center, connecting at a clip of 56.6 percent in the hostile environment. UIC also held the Buffaloes (7-1) to 45 percent, which was their lowest mark in seven victories, but a season-high 24 turnovers stung the Flames. For two teams that like to push the pace, the game never found a steady rhythm. UIC was whistled for a season-high 28 fouls for the second time this year, including nine on the offensive end. CU was issued 17 fouls (three offensive).

Marcus Ottey led all players with 22 points for the Flames, converting 10 of his 15 attempts from the floor. Jordan Blount added 20 for UIC, including 14 in the second half. Blount shot 75 percent (9-of-12) and added six rebounds and a pair of steals. McKinley Wright IV led four Buffaloes in double figures with 21 points.

First-Half Headlines

• SHOTS FALL FREQUENTLY: UIC shot 59.1 percent in the first half, which meant making 13-of-22 attempts from the floor. All but one of those conversions were from inside the arc, however as the Flames shot 1-for-6 from distance. UIC's shooting 2-point field goal percentage in the first 20 minutes was 75 percent (12-of-16).
• OT-O-MATIC: Marcus Ottey was close to unstoppable when he drove to the rim in the frame. He made his first five shots and 2-of-3 after that to net 15 points, which led all players in the period.
• TOO MANY TURNOVERS: UIC was never able to gain a lead in the first 20 minutes in part because of turnovers. The Flames were hampered by 14 in the first half, which helped CU score 11 points. Colorado also coughed it up eight times and the visitors converted those errors to 10 points.
• FRENZY OF FOULS: It was difficult for either side to establish a lengthy run as 23 combined fouls were called on the Flames and Buffs. UIC's depth was tested as two front-court players – Rob Howard and Jacob Wiley – had three fouls in the first half, while Jordan Blount and Godwin Boahen had a pair each. Five of UIC's 13 fouls were on the offensive end.

Second-Half Headlines

• NO RUNNING AWAY: Each time that Colorado was poised to create some significant separation, the Flames had an answer. After the Buffaloes went in front by 10 points for the first time in the game at the 17:33 mark of the second half, UIC countered with a 10-5 run that featured 3-pointers from Boahen and Ottey to make it a five-point game just over two minutes later.
• ONE MORE SURGE: CU collected its first lead over 10 points (11) when the Buffaloes hit a 3-pointer with 4:33 to go. However, another 8-1 run with 3-pointers from Boahen and Tarkus Ferguson made it a four-point affair with 3:17 to go. Michael Diggins came up with a steal on the defensive end, but Ferguson's attempt to make it a one-point game from the left wing drew iron. Colorado would go on an 8-0 run of its own to create a large enough cushion before pulling away, 84-72.

Notes

• Jordan Blount is averaging 23.5 points and shooting 71.4 percent from the field in the last two games against Illinois State and Colorado. He scored a career-high 27 points Wednesday in a win against Illinois State before coming back with the second 20-point performance of his UIC career Saturday. The junior scored 14 of his 20 points in 15:37 in the second half at Colorado.
• Marcus Ottey tallied at least 20 points for the third time this season and the ninth time in his career. He has scored at least 10 points in nine of UIC's 10 games this season. His 22 points at Colorado marked a season high.
• Blount and Ottey shot 70.4 percent (19-of-of-27) Saturday.
• Godwin Boahen hit three 3-pointers Saturday and he has buried multiple 3-pointers in eight consecutive games and in nine of 10 on the season. He has made at least one in 28 straight games going back to last season.
• Michael Diggins led UIC with seven rebounds, matching a career high.
• Tarkus Ferguson began the day as UIC's leading scorer at more than 17 points per game, but he was limited to a season-low three points on 1-of-8 shooting Saturday.
• The Flames shot 59.1 percent (13-of-22) in the first half, the high mark for any half against a Division I opponent this season.
• The Flames were plagued by 14 turnovers in the first half, including five offensive fouls. The team had not had that many miscues in an entire game since Nov. 17, when it took down Bradley at Credit Union 1 Arena.
• UIC was credited with a season-low six assists at Colorado. It was the lowest total since the program's last game in the state, the CIT Championship at Northern Colorado (5). The previous low mark this year was at Notre Dame (9).

Up Next

• UIC will head back to the Windy City and make the short trip to Wintrust Arena for its next game on Friday, Dec. 14 against the DePaul Blue Demons.
• Wintrust Arena is less than three miles from UIC's near west side campus, while it is about seven from DePaul's in Lincoln Park.
• Friday's contest will be televised on FS1 at 6 p.m. CT.