CHICAGO -- UIC's Teyvion Kirk notched the third triple-double in program history, while Rob Howard added a career-high 23 points to help the Flames complete the two-game sweep over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies with a 90-73 triumph at Credit Union 1 Arena on Sunday afternoon.
 
Kirk poured in a career-high 22 points to lead all scorers Sunday. He added 11 assists for the second consecutive game and pulled down 11 rebounds. Kirk averaged 19.5 points, 11 assists and 9.5 assists in the two wins over the Golden Grizzlies (0-9, 0-2 Horizon League). With Howard's game-high 23 points, it was the first time this season that two UIC (5-2, 2-0 Horizon League) players scored at least 20 points.
 
The Flames shot 53 percent from the field and over 43 percent from beyond the arc. After drilling 14 3-pointers on Saturday night, the squad responded with 13 more on Sunday.
 
With consecutive wins to open Horizon League play, it marks the first time that UIC has begun conference play with back-to-back wins since the 2007-08 campaign. It's the first time ever that the Flames have downed Oakland in back-to-back meetings.
 
UIC returns to action Dec. 26-27, hitting the road to take on Milwaukee.
 
How It Happened – First Half

• UIC took a commanding 27-14 lead midway through the first half thanks to a 17-0 run. Five different Flames scored over the 2:49 scoring spurt, led by Howard with six points. The Flames were 6-for-7 from the field while limiting Oakland to 0-for-5 shooting.
• After the UIC run it was the Teyvion Kirk show, as the junior scored UIC's next 13 points. The 13-point spurt gave Kirk 18 for the first half, setting a new career high in scoring. Kirk did not miss a shot during his personal run.
• Jamie Ahale, coming off a career-high 25 points, continued his hot shooting in the first half. The senior finished 4-for-5 from deep in the first half, including a three to beat the buzzer and give the Flames an 18-point halftime lead.
• UIC torched the nets in the first half, shooting 55.3% from the field while limiting the Golden Grizzlies to 38.2% shooting.

 
How It Happened – Second Half

• Howard, who had 10 points in the first half, opened the second-half scoring with a layup in the pain. RayQuawndis Mitchell followed with a triple, extending UIC's lead to 19, its largest of the game.
• Oakland looked to make a run, trimming UIC's lead to 11 with just over 10 minutes left, but a Howard jumper and Ahale 3-pointer pushed the Flames' lead back to 16.
• Kirk hauled in a missed free throw attempt with 6:56 to play, giving the junior a triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
• The Golden Grizzlies looked to make one final push, getting within 10 with 3:13 left, but back-to-back layups by Kirk pushed UIC's lead to 14, and the Flames closed out the 17-point win.

 
News and Notes

• Kirk recorded the third triple-double in UIC history, following recent graduates Godwin Boahen (Dec. 22, 2016) and Tarkus Ferguson (Dec. 5, 2018).
• Howard recorded a career-high 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting. It topped his previous career high of 18, set at Duquesne on Nov. 12, 2018.
• Ahale made 13 3-pointers over the two games, the most in a two-game stretch since Tarkus Ferguson had 13 against Youngstown State and Cleveland State on Jan. 10 & 12, 2019.
• The Flames trailed for a total of 1:49, all in the first half.
• Michael Diggins tied a career-high with five assists, the most against a Horizon League or Division I opponent.
• Sunday marked the first time this year that six different Flames made at least one 3-pointer.