Milwaukee scorched the nets at Credit Union 1 Arena, sending UIC to a 74-57 loss Thursday night.  In their first home game since January 12, the Flames had their streak of two straight wins, and victories in five out of six contests, come to an end.  The Panthers shot 50% on the evening.

Tarkus Ferguson led UIC with 14 points and six rebounds to go with four assists.  Michael Diggins added 11 points.  Milwaukee's Darius Roy led all scorers with 18 points.

UIC's homestand will continue Saturday afternoon against Green Bay.

First Half Highlights

• The game started sloppily, with turnovers on the first three combined possessions, leading to five total giveaways in the first four minutes.  The disjointedness carried over to UIC's offensive end, where the Flames made only one of their first seven shots.
• Milwaukee raced out to a nine point lead before an offensive spark took hold.  A 9-2 run brought them to within two.  Later, Jordan Blount and Braelen Bridges made jumpers in the lane and Michael Diggins knocked down a corner three to account for UIC's best spurt of shooting in the first half.
• The Panthers made consecutive threes to close the half with a 12 point lead.  That was their biggest advantage in a half that saw them shoot 50% overall and 6-of-14 from long distance.

Second Half Highlights

• The Flames started the second half with purpose when Bridges made a spinning hook shot in the lane.  A Diggins block led to a Tarkus Ferguson driving layup, and Marcus Ottey picked Te'Jon Lucas' pocket and made a layup of his own.
• Six minutes in, Jamie Ahale made a three that narrowed the deficit to nine.  The Flames got no closer the rest of the game, despite highlight reel plays from Diggins, who threw down an alley-oop from Jordan Blount, and Ferguson, who cashed in a Bridges block with a fast break layup.
• The Flames shot 42.9% and committed only six turnovers in the second half, but Milwaukee never cooled down.  They made 50% of their shots, and half of their three-pointers, in the last 20 minutes.

Facts and Figures

• The 17 point margin was UIC's largest defeat in Horizon League play.  Their last three games had been decided by two points or less, or went to overtime.
• Milwaukee won the rebounding battle, 37-30, but UIC squeezed off more shots, 58-54.
• Ahale and Diggins each went 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.  The rest of the team made only one of 10 threes.
• Every Flame who played grabbed at least one rebound.

Up Next

• UIC will entertain Green Bay on Saturday.
• The game is part of a Flames Family Weekend and will start at 3:12 pm.