MUNCIE, Ind. – A second-half rally was not enough for the UIC men's basketball team Saturday (Dec. 5), as the Flames suffered their first defeat of the season, 68-66, on the road at Ball State.
 
The Flames, who had not led since 2-0 to begin the game, erased a 10-point second-half deficit to take a 55-54 lead with 4:25 to play. UIC would build the lead to three in the closing minutes but eight unanswered points by Ball State, including six from the free throw line, sealed the decision.
 
Michael Diggins and Braelen Bridges led the Flames in scoring with 13 points each while Zion Griffin scored 12. RayQuawndis Mitchell and Teyvion Kirk added 11 apiece with Kirk also pacing UIC in rebounding (8) and assists (6).
 
UIC returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 13 as the Flames take on city rival Loyola inside Credit Union 1 Arena. Tipoff on ESPN+ is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
How It Happened – First Half

• Bridges opened the scoring with a jumper in the paint to put the Flames ahead 2-0. It was the only first-half lead for the Flames.
• A three-point play by Maurice Commander evened the score at 10-all. Commander made his Flames debut after missing the first three games of the season.
• Ball State took a 10-point lead into the halftime break after shooting 40.7% from the field while limiting the Flames to just 26.9% shooting.

 
How It Happened – Second Half

• The Cardinals built up a 16-point lead in the second half before the Flames began their comeback. A 14-3 UIC run cut the deficit to five with 12:39 to play, with Bridges leading the way. Bridges, who finished with 11 second-half points, scored seven during the run alone.
• An offensive rebound and putback by Kirk gave UIC its first lead since 2-0 with a 55-54 advantage with 4:25 to play. The lead grew to three after Kirk found Diggins for a half-court alley-oop.
• Eight unanswered points by the Cardinals down the stretch, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, gave Ball State the lead for good in the closing minutes of the game.

 
News and Notes

• Diggins scored a season-high 13 points, his first double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Five Flames scored 10 or more points for the first time this season.
• UIC, the 9^th-best 3-point team in the country in defending the 3-point line, limited Ball State to just 2-for-18 (11.1%) shooting from long distance.
• The Flames earned big contributions form their bench, outscoring Ball Sate in bench points, 18-3.