CHICAGO – Behind a game-high 23 points from RayQuawndis Mitchell and a double-double from Braelen Bridges, the UIC men's basketball team improved to 2-0 with a 74-72 victory over Central Michigan inside Credit Union 1 Arena Saturday evening.
 
With the victory, the Flames begin a season 2-0 for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign and have now won five consecutive home openers dating back to 2016. The Flames improve to 17-4 in home debuts going back to the 2000-01 campaign and have now won 31 home openers in the Division I era.
 
Mitchell, coming off his game-winning basket against Northern Illinois on Wednesday, led all scorers with 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Bridges tallied his first double-double of the season and fourth of his career with 17 points and 13 rebounds, one shy of his career in rebounds. Zion Griffin added 10 points off the bench while Teyvion Kirk dished out a team-high six assists.
 
The Flames remain at home to face Valparaiso on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Tipoff inside Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN3.
 
How It Happened – First Half

• Diggins opened the first-half scoring with a dunk, a theme that would develop for the Flames. UIC registered five dunks in the game, including four in the first half.
• The Flames took the lead for good with 5:57 remaining in the opening half after Jamie Ahale knocked down 3-pointer.
• UIC held the Chippewas to 39.3% shooting in the opening frame but excelled at defending the 3-point line as CMU was just 1-for-11 from long distance.
• A 9-1 run for the Flames over the final 1:58 pushed the home team to a 12-point halftime lead, its largest lead of the game.

 
How It Happened – Second Half

• The Flames struggled to get shots to fall over the final 20 minutes but took advantage at the free throw line, with 14 of their 31 second-half points coming via the charity stripe.
• Mitchell picked up right where he left off from the team's season debut, scoring 15 of his 23 points in the second half. The junior transfer was 3-for-4 from the free throw line and converted 6-of-8 free throw attempts.
• UIC held a seven-point advantage with 34 seconds left following a free throw from Kirk but had to hold off a late Central Michigan rally. A 5-1 spurt in a span of six seconds made it a two-point Flames lead, and UIC was able to inbound the ball on the final possession to close out the victory.

 
News and Notes

• UIC begins the season 2-0 for the first time since 2007-08 and is the ninth 2-0 in the Flames' Division I history.
• Saturday's victory marked the fifth consecutive home opening win for UIC dating back to the 2016-17 season. UIC has now won 31 home openers in its DI history is now 17-4 in home debuts since 2000-01.
• Sophomore Brian Taylor made his first career start and finished with seven points and four rebounds in 21:32 of game action.
• UIC swatted away seven shots Saturday, with Taylor and Ahale each collecting two while Mitchell, Michael Diggins, Jacob Wiley all had one each.

 
Up Next

• UIC plays host to Valparaiso on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
• The Crusaders enter the contest 0-1 following a 77-71 setback against Vanderbilt in their season debut Friday.