CHICAGO – UIC was unable to completely overcome a sluggish offensive start as the Flames (9-10, 3-3 Horizon League) dropped a road test at Milwaukee (8-11, 3-3 Horizon League) Thursday night, 81-69.
 
UIC shot 28.1 percent from the field in the first half and 20 percent from beyond the arc. The Flames trailed by nine at the break and fell behind by as many as 15 points in the second half. Despite furious effort, they were unable to come any closer than four points the rest of the night.
 
Marcus Ottey led UIC with 18 points and matched a career high with nine free throws (9-of-10). Tarkus Ferguson made a game-high five 3-pointers, including four in the second half, to finish with 16 points. DeAndre Abram had 19 points and 16 rebounds to lead Milwaukee.

First-Half Headlines

• LOOKS FAMILIAR: After matching a program record with 17 3-pointers in its last game against Cleveland State on Saturday, the Flames came out firing once again. Rob Howard splashed in a topside 3-pointer on the game's first possession and Godwin Boahen and Tarkus Ferguson added triples in the first in the first 4:25 of the game. Ferguson's gave UIC an early 11-7 lead.
• IRON UNKIND: For the remainder of first half, however, the Flames struggled to score. UIC shot a lowly 28 percent (9-of-32) over the first 20 minutes and 20 percent (4-of-20) from beyond the arc.
• ONE-MAN SHOW: DeAndre Abram provided the bulk of the offense for Milwaukee in the first half. The redshirt junior scored 17 points on 7-of-11 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. He also cleaned up on the glass with a game-high nine rebounds in the first half. Abram's effort helped the Panthers take a nine-point lead at halftime, their largest of the night to that point.

Second-Half Headlines

• TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: Marcus Ottey was called for a personal foul at the 17:42 mark of the period and as officials went to the monitor to review the play, UIC was assessed two technical fouls, one on Jordan Blount and one on head coach Steve McClain. Milwaukee made four free throws to take a 41-26 lead, the largest of the game.
• FLAMES FIRE BACK: UIC charged back and went on a quick 8-0 run on three straight possessions to get right back into the ballgame. The surge started with Ferguson drilling a 3-pointer from the Panther logo and continued when he found Michael Diggins for a thunderous alley-oop. Then Ferguson camped in the left corner and banged another triple that pulled the Flames within seven at 41-34.
• FULL-COURT FRENZY: UIC picked up the Panthers for all 94 feet of the court for most of the second half. The relentless effort helped the Flames climb to within four points with 7:03 to go after a rebound and runout led to another triple for Ferguson. That put UIC within striking distance at 57-53.
• FRONTCOURT THINNED: Howard fouled out of the game with 4:36 remaining and Blount was disqualified on fouls 24 seconds later. Milwaukee led by 10 after Jake Wright made one of two free throws upon Blount's DQ and the home team would maintain a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the ballgame before posting the 81-69 triumph.

Highlights



Notables

• The loss snapped UIC's two-game winning streak and a stretch of four straight wins in the regular season. The Flames had not lost at UWM Panther Arena since Feb. 28, 2016.
• UIC had a season-low eight turnovers Thursday. It was the lowest total since Dec. 22, 2015, when the Flames had only eight against Purdue Calumet.
• UIC made 10 3-pointers at Milwaukee, marking the 13^th time in 19 games that it reached double digits, and the fourth game in a row.
• Marcus Ottey scored 18 points while matching a career high with nine from the charity stripe. That total is the single-game high for a UIC player this season. Ottey also made nine as a freshman against UTSA on Nov. 16, 2016.
• Ottey led the Flames in scoring for the eighth time this season.
• Tarkus Ferguson added 16 points with five 3-pointers. The junior has registered at least five triples in three consecutive games and in seven of 19 games this season.
• Jordan Blount had a team-high 10 rebounds in 22 minutes. He corralled three offensive caroms and has tallied at least one offensive board in 13 of UIC's last 14 games.
• Rob Howard matched a career high with eight rebounds. The junior pulled down five offensive rebounds, a career high.
• Godwin Boahen made two 3-pointers. He's made at least one shot from beyond the arc in 37 straight games and at least two 16 times this year alone.

Up Next

• The Flames continue the road trip on Saturday, January 19 at Green Bay. The Phoenix fell at home to IUPUI Thursday night, 76-70.
• UIC won at Green Bay in a game play at the on-campus Kress Center last season, 83-75 (Feb. 16). It was the first time that the Flames won in Green Bay since the 2003-04 season.
• Saturday's game tips off at 12 p.m. and it can be viewed on ESPN+.

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