HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky's Bryson Langdon hit the go-ahead jumper with 1.8 seconds remaining Saturday as the UIC men's basketball team dropped a 69-67 heartbreaker to the Norse inside BB&T Arena.
 
The Flames (8-7, 5-5 Horizon League) battled back from a 13-point second-half deficit to take a two-point lead after Jamie Ahale connected on back-to-back 3-pointers with 2:15 to play. NKU's (9-8, 7-5) Langdon would score the final four points, including the game-winner with just under two seconds remaining.
 
Braelen Bridges led all scorers Saturday with 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting while matching the game high with eight rebounds. Bridges was joined in double figures by Maurice Commander (14) and Teyvion Kirk 10).
 
The Flames return home to being the final stretch of the regular season which features four of the final six games inside Credit Union 1 Arena. UIC will play host to Wright State next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5-6.
 
How It Happened – First Half

• Both teams were firing offensively over the first 20 minutes, as the Flames (54.2%) outshot Northern Kentucky (53.6%) from the field.
• The Flames built an early four-point lead, its largest lead of the game, thanks to a 10-1 run. Bridges connected in the paint to start the run. Kirk converted a layup following a Norse free throw and RayQuawndis Mitchell and Ahale hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
• Northern Kentucky jumped back in front and led by nine with 2:36 to play before the Flames ended the half on a 7-2 run to pull within four at the break.
• Bridges had a nearly perfect first half, finishing 3-for-4 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.

 
How It Happened – Second Half

• The Norse made the first big push of the second half, extending their lead to 13 with 12:37 to play.
• UIC slowly chipped away at the deficit before making one final push for the lead. Commander was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer with 3:46 to play. The junior converted all three free throws to pull UIC within two points. After a pair of free throws from NKU, Ahale connected on back-to-back triples to put the Flames in front with 2:15 to play. It was their first lead since the 12:56 mark of the first half.
• NKU scored the final four points, including the go-ahead bucket with 1.8 seconds remaining, and prevented the Flames from getting a potential shot off at the buzzer.

News and Notes

• Saturday marked the second consecutive game in which every UIC player that saw action scored at least two points.
• Commander dished out a team-high and season-high four assists.
• The Flames once again locked down the perimeter, limiting Northern Kentucky to 3-of-12 shooting from long distance.
• UIC finished the game shooting 48% (24-50) from the field, the third best field goal percentage by the Flames this season.