CHICAGO -- After falling behind by 16 points, UIC rallied to tie Northern Kentucky, but never got over the hump as the Norse (21-8, 14-3 HL) clinched at least a share of the Horizon League regular season title by virtue of their 79-72 win at UIC Pavilion Friday night.
The Flames (17-13, 12-5 HL) had five players score in double digits. A thrilling 14-2 run to start the second half energized the team, and the boisterous crowd, but the defending conference champions never trailed after the break.
With just one regular season game remaining, the Flames will #PackThePav against Wright State late Sunday afternoon. The Raiders sit just one game ahead of the Flames in the Horizon League standings.
First Half Headlines
- Score Seesaws to Start: The game saw five lead changes, with neither team leading by more than three points, over the first 6-plus minutes. The Flames' defense was locked in early. On one Northern Kentucky possession, they deflected the ball out of bounds twice and forced the Norse to unleash a 25-footer as the shot clock expired.
- Turnover Free Norse Claim Lead: The fifth and final lead change put the Norse ahead, and they would maintain that lead for the rest of the half thanks in part to UIC getting sloppy with the ball. The Flames committed four turnovers while NKU was turnover-free, and the visitors made UIC pay by scoring eight points off of those miscues.
- Flames Go Cold: Northern Kentucky maintained a double-digit lead for most of the last six minutes. UIC managed to get the margin below 10 on a couple of occasions, but a 1-for-12 drought prevented them from seriously chipping away at the deficit. Lavone Holland II scored 10 of his 12 first half points in the final five minutes. Dikembe Dixson's 3-point play following a strong baseline drive was the Flames' only field goal in the last six minutes.
Second Half Headlines
- Flames Ignite Big Run: An empty Norse possession, followed by a transition three pointer from Dixson, ignited a 14-2 run that pulled UIC to within three points and got the crowd on its feet. During the run, Tarkus Ferguson nailed a three, forcing Northern Kentucky to call timeout. Immediately upon resumption, Jordan Blount intercepted the inbounds pass and converted a reverse up-and-under, and Marcus Ottey stole the ball at midcourt and ran in for a layup.
- Chipping Away In Close: UIC continued to do damage in the paint after the Norse briefly righted their ship and pushed their lead back to seven. Tai Odiase did a nice job of corralling a long pass and converting a dunk right before Blount made another layup.
- Back Within Two: Northern Kentucky was able to keep the Flames at arm's length for the next six minutes. Their lead oscillated between four and eight points until UIC forced two turnovers and Godwin Boahen made a twisting layup to make the score 61-59.
- Tied, But Never Ahead: Marcus Ottey drove the lane and tied the game with 5:46 to go. The Flames would not score again until Boahen's three at the 2:48 mark. Meanwhile, NKU got three pointers from Drew McDonald and Jordan Garnett, building a six point lead that seemed bigger with every passing minute.
- Norse Claim the Win: As the Flames found baskets hard to come by, the Norse made sure the ball was in the hands of Holland. He sank five free throws and added a layup in the final minute.
Postgame Reaction
Steve McClain
Marcus Ottey &
Tai Odiase
Facts and Figures
- Both teams attempted 62 field goals, but NKU was slightly more efficient, making 28 to UIC's 25.
- The visitors claimed an advantage from long range with a 42-percent night on three pointers. UIC was just 6-of-21 (29 percent) from behind the arc.
- Holland's game-high 25 points were also a season high for the senior.
- Though NKU built their early lead off of turnovers, the Flames ended up with the advantage in points resulting from miscues, 17-9.
- The game's first 35 combined points were scored by 14 different players, with no individual totaling more than four points.
- Odiase finished a rebound shy of a double-double. He had 14 points and a game high nine rebounds.
- Dixson, Ferguson, Ottey, and Boahen were the other Flames in double figures.
- The Norse enjoyed a rebounding advantage throughout the evening. The Flames closed the gap in the second half, ultimately getting out-rebounded by two, 40-38.
- Dixson was the only Flame to make more than one three-pointer.
- Marcus Ottey blocked two shots in a three possession span for his first multi-block game of the season.
- Tarkus Ferguson had 11 points, getting back into double digits after four straight games. Prior to that stretch, he had scored over 10 in six of eight games.
Up Next
- UIC will close out the regular season by hosting Wright State Sunday at 5:00 pm.
- The game will be #PackThePav night. Tickets can be purchased for just $5 by using the code "PACK" at Ticketmaster.com.
- Hot dogs will be just $1 during the game. Beer will be $1 from the time the gates open at 4:00 until tipoff.
- It will also be Senior Night. Tai Odiase and Clint Robinson, and head manager Mike Kelly, will be honored before the game for their contributions and accomplishments in the UIC basketball program.
