CHICAGO -- UIC smothered Robert Morris Friday night, holding the visiting Colonials to 30% from the field and 7.1% from beyond the arc en route to a 67-53 triumph at Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
Friday's victory marked the second time this season the Flames (6-4, 3-2 Horizon League) held an opponent to 53 points or fewer. UIC also stifled Valparaiso on December 1, holding the Crusaders to 50 in a 17-point victory. In both victories UIC's 3-point field goal defense was at its best, holding the opposition to one triple in 14 attempts.
 
Senior Michael Diggins tallied a team-high 16 points for UIC, while Teyvion Kirk notched his fourth double-double of the campaign with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jamie Ahale chipped in with 12 points as he sank at least four 3-pointers for the fourth time in a five-game span, Braelen Bridges returned to action for the first time since Dec. 13 and he added 11 points in just over 13 minutes off the bench.
 
RMU's (3-4, 2-2 Horizon League) AJ Bramah led all players with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
 
How It Happened – First Half

• After UIC opened the game with a 3-pointer from Ahale, Robert Morris scored the next four points to take its first lead of the game at 4-3 with 15:57 left in the first half.
• The Flames responded with a 12-2 run to build a nine-point lead midway through the opening half. Kirk scored back-to-back buckets to kickstart the run while Bridges added four points of his own during the UIC scoring spurt.
• The Colonials chipped away at the UIC advantage, taking its second, and final, lead of the game with 3:55 away at 26-25. Another Flames run to end the half built the advantage back up to nine headed into the break. UIC once again used a 12-2 run thanks to a pair of triples from Diggins, who led all scorers with 12 first-half point.

 
How It Happened – Second Half

• UIC's lead grew to 12 coming out the break. Rob Howard, fouled on a 3-point attempt, converted all three of his free throws early in the second half, setting the tone for what was to come from the Flames.
• The Flames built their largest lead of the game after a 10-2 run pushed the lead to 17 at 55-38 with 10:24 to go in the game. Ahale connected from deep twice during the run to fuel the Flames.
• UIC maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game, thanks in part to the free throw line. Of UIC's 16 made free throws, one shy of the team's season high, 13 came in the second half.

 
News and Notes

• Kirk registered his team-leading fourth double-double of the year with 12 points, a team-high 10 rebounds and four assists.
• Ahale finished the night with four 3-pointers, the fourth time in the last five games in which Ahale has made four or more triples.
• Friday marked the second time this year the Flames limited an opponent to 1-of-14 (7.1%) shooting from beyond the arc.
• UIC held Robert Morris to 30% shooting from the field, the lowest shooting percentage by an opponent this year.