CHICAGO – Behind a game-high 20 points from Michael Diggins and a double-double from Tarkus Ferguson, the UIC men's basketball team upset league-leading Wright State, 76-72, Sunday (Jan. 12) afternoon inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
The victory was the third consecutive for the Flames over the Raiders, who entered Sunday's contest a perfect 5-0 in league play. UIC was firing offensively, shooting 49.2% from the field, while limiting Wright State to 24-of-66 shooting (36.4%).
 
Wright State gained its only lead of the game at 5-4 early in the first half and never led again following a Braelen Bridges layup shortly after. In total, UIC led for 37:55 of the 40 minutes Sunday despite a late charge by the Raiders. Wright State trimmed UIC's lead down to two on a pair of occasions in the final 1:13 of the game, but Godwin Boahen and Marcus Ottey both went a perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line down the stretch to seal the upset victory.
 
Diggins and Ferguson, who added 10 rebounds, were two of the five Flames to score in double figures and were joined by a season-high 16 points from Jordan Blount, 12 points from Bridges and 11 points from Bohaen.
 
The Flames hit the road for a season-long five-game roadtrip starting Saturday, Jan. 18, at IUPUI. Tipoff is set for 11:00 a.m. (CT) in Indianapolis.
 
 
First Half Highlights

• The battle started as the Flames fired first with a jumper by Bridges. However, it didn't take long for WSU to respond with dunk to tie the game, 2-2. Both teams fought until the Raiders scored a 3-pointer that gave them only lead of the night, 5-4, with 18:25 remaining in the first half.
• Bridges continued to produce as he scored a layup that allowed UIC to regain the lead and begin an 8-0 run that would last for 2:51. The layup was followed up with jumper from Ottey, a dunk from Diggins and a layup from Blount.
• Although the Raiders overcame the Flames' spurt with a 3-pointer of their own, Boahen scored a layup that gave way to a 6-0 run for the Flames, putting UIC up 18-8.
• With 6:12 left in the first half, the Flames fought to keep their seven-point advantage after the Raiders scored a layup. Blount helped UIC extend their lead by scoring a layup, with 10 of his 16 points coming in the first half.
• Diggins beat the buzzer from beyond the arc to end the Flames' first half with bang, leading 38-29.

 
Second Half Highlights

• The Raiders scored first to kick off the second half, but the Flames quickly recovered and scored a dagger 3-pointer to start a 7-0 run. After Diggins opened up the run, Blount scored back-to-back layups that gave the Flames a 45-31 advantage.
• A pair of free throws from Diggins would not only give UIC their largest lead of the night of 15 points (49-34), but also tied Blount for a high of 14 points in the game. Later in the game, Diggins would go a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe as he scored another pair of freebies to extend UIC's lead.
• After two free throws from Ferguson, both teams battled with 14:12 left in second half. A 3-pointer from WSU was not left unanswered as Ferguson scored a trey of his own to keep the lead at 13 at 54-41. The Flames continued to fight as Bridges scored a layup and dunk.
• With 3:53 remaining, WSU gained their largest run (10-0) of the night to cut the Flames lead to two, 72-70. A pair of free throws from Boahen would provide UIC wiggle room with 23 seconds remaining in the second half. Another pair of freebies from Ottey would secure the win for the Flames, 76-72.

 
Facts & Figures

• Diggins was the lead scorer of the night with 20 points, his second game with 20 or more this season.
• Ferguson finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds giving him his first double-double this year and 19^th of his career.
• Five Flames finished the game with 10 or more points. It is the first time UIC has had five or more players with 10+ points since a 76-75 win over IUPUI on Feb. 9, 2019.
• Blount scored a season-high 16 points, his second double-figure game of the year.
• UIC collected 41 rebounds this afternoon matching a season high. The Flames improved to 5-2 when outrebounding their opponent.