CHICAGO -- UIC (4-2, 1-0 HL) won its Horizon League opener Saturday night by knocking off the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (0-8, 0-1 HL), 74-72, at Credit Union 1 Arena. The Flames were paced by a career-high 25 points and 8 3-pointers from senior Jamie Ahale. Newcomer Teyvion Kirk added his second double-double of the young season behind 15 points and a game-high 11 assists.
 
After trailing throughout much of the first half, UIC used an 11-0 second-half run to grad their first lead of the evening with 15:22 to go thanks to an Ahale triple. The sides traded blows (and the lead) down the stretch before the Flames went in front for good with 49 seconds to go when Kirk followed up his own miss with an offensive rebound and putback for a 70-68 advantage. Another big triple from RayQuawndis Mitchell and a free throw from Ahale helped put the Golden Grizzlies away.
 
Ahale's 8 3-pointers were one shy of a single-game UIC record. The Australian joins Cedrick Banks, Josh Mayo, and most recently Daniel Barnes, as Flames with eight 3-point field goals in a game. Brian Hill holds the single-game record after he sank nine against Western Michigan on Dec. 1, 1990.
 
As a team, the Flames made 14 3-pointers on the evening, the most since UIC tied the school record with 17 made triples against Cleveland State on January 12, 2019. Defensively, UIC limited the Golden Grizzlies to just 2-for-16 (12.5%) shooting from long distance. It is the fifth time in six games the Flames have limited their opponent to three or fewer 3-pointers and fourth time a team has shot 12.5% or worse from long distance.
 
Mitchell was the third Flame to score in double figures, finishing the evening with 19 points and five rebounds. The Flames did a phenomenal job sharing the ball, assisting on 20 of their 28 field goals.
 
UIC finishes its season series with Oakland on Sunday, Dec. 20. Tipoff inside Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
How It Happened – First Half

• Oakland jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before a Rob Howard dunk put the Flames on the board. It was the first start of the year for Howard after making his season debut last time out.
• The Golden Grizzlies extended their lead to 12 at 20-8, but back-to-back baskets by Ahale and Kirk trimmed the deficit back down to single digits. Ahale's triple was a preview of what was to come from the senior the rest of the game.
• Ahale's fourth three of the half pulled UIC within one at 32-31 with 2:34 to play, but Oakland closed the half on an 8-3 run to take a six-point lead into the break.
• The Flames remained within striking distance thanks to lockdown defense from the 3-point line as the Golden Grizzlies were just 1-for-9 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes.

 
How It Happened – Second Half

• Trailing by six with 16:23 to play, the Flames ripped off an 11-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 54-47. UIC connected from deep three times during the run, two by Ahale and one by Mitchell, while Michael Diggins converted in the paint for two.
• The two teams battled back and forth, with three lead changes and one tied score in the second half.
• After Oakland built a seven-point lead with 5:22 to play, a 14-3 UIC run gave the Flames a four-point lead in the closing seconds. Mitchell's three with 16 seconds left pushed the advantage to four, which proved to be the difference-maker.
• The Golden Grizzlies connected on a three to get within one, but an Ahale free throw pushed the advantage to two. Oakland's last-second attempt fell short, capping UIC's victory.

 
News and Notes

• Ahale set new career highs in points (25) and 3-pointers (8). His eight made threes is one shy of the program record of nine set by Brian Hill against Western Michigan on Dec. 1, 1990.
• Freshman Griffin Yaklich, the son of head coach Luke Yaklich, made his UIC debut in the first half of the game.
• The Flames tied their season-high in points with 74. UIC also scored 74 in a win against Central Michigan on Nov. 28. The 28 made field goals and 14 made 3-point field goals are both season highs for UIC.
• UIC assisted on 20 of its 28 made field goals, a new season best in assists. Kirk accounted for 11 of the 20 assists, raising his total to 51 on the season. Kirk's 51 assists are more than the rest of the team combined (45).
• The Flames held Oakland to 2-for-16 (12.5%) shooting from 3-point range. It is the fifth time in six games the Flames have limited their opponent to three or fewer 3-pointers and fourth time a team has shot 12.5% or worse from long distance.
• The Flames' 14 made 3-pointers are the most in a game since UIC tied the program record with 17 made triples against Cleveland State on January 12, 2019.