CHICAGO -- Deon Ejim scored 12 points while Brian Taylor added 10 as a shorthanded UIC men's basketball team dropped a 67-48 decision to Ball State Wednesday (Nov. 13) evening.
 
A redshirt freshman, Ejim recorded his first double-figure scoring effort of his young career with a team-high 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting while adding seven rebounds. Taylor posted his second consecutive double-figure game with 10 points.
 
Tied at 17-all with 5:34 remaining in the opening half, Ball State used an 11-2 run to close out the first 20 minutes and maintained its lead throughout the entire second half.
 
UIC returns to action this Saturday (Nov. 16), as the Flames hit the road to face in-state foe Bradley. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
First Half Highlights

• Off and Running: After falling behind 9-3 early in the game, UIC used a 7-1 run to even the score up at 10-all with 8:37 remaining in the opening half. Brian Taylor converted in the paint, Jamie Ahale scored from beyond the arc and Godwin Boahen hit a pair of free throws to cap the run.
• Wiley Clean the Glass: Making his first career start, Jacob Wiley tied for the game-high with nine rebounds. Eight of Wiley's nine rebounds came in the first half. Boahen added seven first-half rebounds.

 
Second Half Highlights

• Ejim Gets to Work: Deon Ejim scored nine of his team-high 12 points in the final half, going 3-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line over the final 20 minutes of play. The redshirt freshman also brought in five of his seven rebounds during the second half.
• Second Half Spurt: Battled until the end, finishing the game on an extended 15-5 run over the final 4:30 of game action.