CHICAGO – Behind a season-high 18 points from Marcus Ottey, the UIC men's basketball team closed out nonconference play with a 76-67 victory over UC Irvine Friday (Dec. 20) evening inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
Ottey, whose season high entering the game was 12, scored 13 of his 18 points in the opening half as the Flames built a 19-point halftime lead. The lead would grow to as many as 23 in the early moments of the second half before the Anteaters chipped away and got within eight with seven and a half minutes left in the game. The Flames maintained their composure down the stretch, sending UIC into the holiday break and the start of Horizon League play with a win.
 
The Flames offense was firing on all cylinders, shooting 49.1 percent (27-of-55) from the field against a UC Irvine squad that entered the game ranked 11^th nationally in field goal percent defense (.366).
 
Ottey was joined in double figures by Tarkus Ferguson (14) and Braelen Bridges (10).
 
First Half Highlights

• Ottey got things started for the Flames in the first quarter as he drove for a layup on the opening possession. UCI responded with a shot and layup to take an early lead at 4-2.
• A trey from Michael Diggins not only gave UIC the lead, but also the momentum, as the Flames used a 12-0 run to lead, 17-6. The Flames would hold a lead for the remainder of the game.
• UIC's lead was cut down to eight after the Anteaters fired a three, but it did not take long for Jamie Ahale to respond with a dagger of his own to put the Flames in front, 20-9.
• Ottey continued to deliver in the first period with back-to-back baskets, including a highlight-reel dunk extend the Flames' lead to 25-11.
• Braelen Bridges' jumper started a 6-0 run for the Flames over the ensuing 1:43 before a 3-pointer by Brian Taylor, UIC's seventh in the first half, closed the books on a 41-22 halftime lead.

 
Second Half Highlights

• UCI got on the board first with a layup, but a jumper by Godwin Boahen was just what the Flames needed to start of the second half with a bang, 43-24.
• A trey from Ferguson would create the biggest lead of the season for UIC of 23 points at 49-26 with 18:10 left in the game.
• Bridges' layup and Ferguson's dunk added to the Flames lead, 56-35. Both continued to produce with another layup and dunk shortly after.
• Jacob Wiley's dunk allowed UIC to get back on the board and end the Anteaters' 13-0 run, who had trimmed the Flames advantage to eight points with 7:28 remaining in the contest.
• The Flames continued to push in closing minutes of the game as Jordan Blount connected with Ahale on an alley-oop. Blount scored an extra four points from the charity stripe to help UIC finish off the 76-67 victory.

 
Facts and Figures

• Ottey surpassed his season high of 12 points, finishing with a team-high 18
• Tarkus Ferguson has now scored 10 or more points in 8-of-10 games this season.
• With six rebounds tonight, Tarkus Ferguson surpassed 600 career rebounds (602).
• Jamie Ahale matched his career high in rebounds with six.
• UIC was stronger in three-point shooting, making 45 percent (9-of-20), compared to just 35.3 percent for UCI.

Up Next

• UIC will host Cleveland State in the Horizon League opener for both schools on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 3:12 p.m. CT.