LAS VEGAS – The UIC men's basketball team dropped a 64-52 decision to San Diego Friday (Nov. 26) to wrap up play at the Las Vegas Classic.
 
Damaria Franklin scored a team-high 12 points while leading the team with seven rebounds and four assists. For his performance over the two games, Franklin was named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Kevin Johnson added nine points and four assists while Zion Griffin and Filip Skobalj contributed eight points each for the Flames.
 
After the Toreros opened the game with a 3-pointer, a bucket by Griffin and a 3-pointer from Kevin Johnson gave UIC its only lead of the game at 5-3 less than two minutes into the contest. Seven unanswered by San Diego allowed the Toreros to regain a lead it would not relinquish.
 
Trailing by seven at the break, Franklin opened the second half with a layup to cut the deficit to five. Following a San Diego triple, Skobalj countered with a 3-pointer of his own to trim the deficit once again to five, the closest UIC would get in the second half.
 
UIC returns home to start Horizon League play on Thursday, Dec. 2 against Oakland. Tip-off inside Credit Union 1 Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
 
News and Notes

• Franklin has now scored 10 or more points in five of UIC's six contests this year.
• Skobalj earned his second consecutive start for the Flames after making his first collegiate start in UIC's first game in Las Vegas.
• The Flames struggled from deep, connecting on just 3-of-22 field goal attempts from distance.