CHICAGO – UIC closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule Sunday afternoon by knocking off the Northern Illinois Huskies, 61-60, at Credit Union 1 Arena.
UIC (4-7, 0-2 Horizon League) found itself in front for the first 39-plus minutes of the contest before the Huskies (3-7) grabbed their first advantage with 54.3 seconds remaining.
Marcus Larsson's two free throws with 10.8 seconds to go put the Flames back in front and their defense held on the other end to seal the victory.
Damaria Franklin netted 17 points to lead UIC to go along with seven rebounds.
Kevin Johnson played all but 40 seconds and scored 14 points with six assists.
Zion Griffin paced all players with eight rebounds, including four on the offensive end.
UIC set the tone early in the first half as it rushed out to a quick 7-0 lead over the first two minutes and change. Soon after that the home team ripped off nine unanswered points from four different players to set a 13-point lead less than five minutes into the contest. The Flames led by as many as 16 points with just under 12 minutes remaining in the first half.
NIU clawed back and held UIC without a point over the final two minutes to shrink the deficit to seven points at the break. That was as close as the Huskies has been since the game-opening surge by the Flames.
The visitors tied the game for the first time at 52-all with 6:39 remaining, but on the next offensive trip for UIC Johnson found Larsson inside for a powerful layup to regain the lead for the home team. A 3-pointer from Johnson with 3:19 to go pushed the lead back out to five, but the Huskies scored six unanswered points to gain their first lead of the contest.
The Huskies got a look at the rim on a driving layup, but Griffin scrambled and dove on the floor to corral the loose ball with 1.6 seconds to go. UIC would turn it over on the inbound, but NIU's
Keshawn Williams couldn't get a shot off after the steal.
The Flames will be idle for nine days until Thursday, Dec. 30, when they will be right back at Credit Union 1 Arena to host the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons in the resumption of Horizon League play. That weekend also features a visit from defending Horizon League champion Cleveland State on New Year's Day. Tickets for both contests can be purchased through
Ticketmaster.
News & Notes
- Damaria Franklin scored in double figures for the ninth time in 11 games at UIC. He scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half Sunday.
- Kevin Johnson's 3-pointer with 3:19 remaining was the final field goal of the game for the Flames.
- Zion Griffin had four offensive rebounds, marking the third time he has had at least three boards on the offensive glass this season (also vs. Hawaii and vs. Oakland).
- Marcus Larsson played a season-high 13:06 as he finished with eight points, six rebounds and a block.
- Michael Diggins had three blocks for the second time this season. As a team, NIU had only one.
- The Flames improved to 4-1 when outrebounding the opposition. UIC won the battle Sunday, 39-28, and its margin (+11) was the highest of the season.
- UIC used its sixth different starting lineup of the season in game No. 11. Head coach Luke Yaklich tabbed Kevin Johnson, Damaria Franklin, Filip Skobalj, Zion Griffin and Michael Diggins to open the affair.
- Johnson is the only Flame to start all 11 games this season.
- Ahale played in is 100th game in a UIC uniform Sunday. The Australian has made at least one 3-pointer in 69 of those 100 contests.
