CHICAGO – Despite a career high 24 points from Zion Griffin, the UIC men's basketball team dropped its Horizon League opener by an 81-77 margin to Oakland Thursday evening inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
The Flames (2-5, 0-1 HL), who once trailed by as many as 20 in the contest, battled back in the second half. UIC climbed within three with 53 seconds left following a Michael Diggins bucket in the paint, but the Flame's attempt at a game-tying three in the closing seconds hit off the iron, allowing Oakland to close the game out at the free throw line.
 
Griffin led all scorers with his game-high 24, surpassing his previous career best of 17 which he set earlier this year. The Chicago native nearly recorded his first-career double-double, finishing with nine points to go along with four assists and two steals. Griffin was 10-of-14 from the field and 3-for-6 from long distance.
 
Franklin joined Griffin in double figures, adding 20 points, five rebounds and three assists. Kevin Johnson was closing in on a double-double as well with nine points and a team-high seven assists.
 
Oakland created some distance in the first half on the strength of a methodical 18-2 run over the span of just over six minutes in the first half. UIC was within three, down 16-13, when Griffin knocked down a 3-pointer, but by the time he converted from distance the next time with 4:21 remaining in the period, Oakland led by 17 points. The Flames chipped away at the deficit, cutting the margin to 12 at the break after Filip Skobalj knocked down a triple of his own in the waning second of the first half.
 
Trailing by 15 with just over 10 minutes to go, the Flames began to claw their way back into the game. A 10-2 run cut the deficit to seven with 6:50 remaining, as three pointers from Johnson and Griffin started and ended the run, respectively.
 
The Flames hung around with Oakland, eventually cutting the Golden Grizzlies' lead to three with 53 seconds left but were unable to get any closer.
 
UIC remains at home and welcomes Detroit Mercy to town on Sunday. Tip-off inside Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 1 p.m.
 
News & Notes

• Zion Griffin became the third different UIC player to pour in at least 20 points in a game this season. Damaria Franklin has accomplished the feat four times (including tonight) and Kevin Johnson has done so once thus far.
• Marcus Larsson made his debut for the Flames Thursday, checking in with 4:35 to go in the opening half. The Norwegian scored his first bucket on a layup just over a minute later.
• UIC used the starting lineup of K. Johnson, Franklin, Ahale, Griffin and Skobalj for the third consecutive game.
• The Flames recorded 23 assists on their 33 made baskets while limiting Oakland to just 13 helpers.