CHICAGO -- Northern Kentucky used a pivotal second-half run Friday (Jan. 10) evening to defeat UIC, 68-52, inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
Michael Diggins fell a rebound shy of his second-ever double-double, finishing with team highs in points (15) and rebounds (9). Tarkus Fergus and Marcus Ottey were both 4-for-7 from the field and ended the evening with 12 and 11 points, respectively, along with five rebounds each.
 
With the Flames leading 33-29 following a Ferguson 3-pointer, the Norse exploded on a 30-0 run. Another Ferguson triple ended the run scoring spree, snapping a stretch of 11:34 without a point by UIC.
 
UIC led for the entire first half until a Norse bucket with two seconds left before break gave the visitors a one-point lead at halftime. The Flames jumped back in front early in the second half, leading by as many as four, when NKU began their game-changing run.
 
The Flames are back in action on Sunday, playing host to league-leading Wright State. Tipoff inside Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 3:12 p.m.
 
First Half Notes

• UIC struck first, scoring the first four points of the game. An alley-oop layup by Diggins started the evening's scoring and was followed by a Jordan Blount jumper shortly after.
• The Flames built their biggest lead of the opening half of six points following a quick 5-0 scoring spurt. Ferguson knocked down his second triple of the half before Diggins converted a pair from the free throw line with 8:09 remaining.
• Diggins had an effective first half, finishing the first 20 minutes with a game-high 11 points and team-best seven rebounds on 4-of-8 shooting.
• A last-second bucket by Northern Kentucky gave the visitors a one-point advantage headed into the locker room, leading 26-25

 
Second Half Notes

• UIC jumped right back in front, scoring the first five points of the second half to build a four-point cushion. Ottey opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer and was followed by a jumper by Braelen Bridges in the paint.
• With the Flames leading 33-29 with 17:15 remaining following Ferguson's third triple of the night, Northern Kentucky exploded on a 30-0 run to take a commanding 59-33 lead. UIC missed 13 consecutive shots from the field while the Norse were 12-for-19 from the field.
• Ottey and Ferguson each pushed past the 10-point threshold on the evening in the second frame, with Ottey scoring seven second-half points and Ferguson adding six.