INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – IUPUI's lights-out shooting from the field continued Saturday, as the Flames dropped an 88-81 decision to the Jaguars in the final regular season road game this year for UIC.
 
For the second day in a row, IUPUI (7-8, 6-8HL) shot 57.4% from the field, however Saturday's contest was closely contested until the final minutes of play. UIC (8-11, 5-9), led by as many as five in the first half and was within two possessions of the Jaguars with 4:22 remaining following a Jamie Ahale triple, but a pair of 3-pointers by Jaylen Minnett prevent the Flames from making a late comeback attempt.
 
Teyvion Kirk led a quartet of Flames in double figures, scoring a team-high 21 points for his third game of 20+ points this season. RayQuawndis Mitchell and Braelen Bridges added 15 points each while Michael Diggins chipped in 10. Kirk also led the Flames in assists (5) and rebounds (6).
 
Once again, it was IUPUI's three-headed attack of Minnett, Elyjah Goss and Marcus Burk who paced the Jaguars. After combining to score 78 of the team's 89 points a day ago, the trio combined to score 69 of the IUPUI's 88 points Saturday afternoon, led by Marcus Burk's game-high 34 points.
 
The Flames return to Credit Union 1 Arena next weekend to close out the regular season. UIC will play host to Green Bay in a two-game set, beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
 
How It Happened – First Half

• After IUPUI jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, the Flames battled back to take its first lead of the game at 16-14 following a Bridges layup. The layup capped a 6-0 UIC scoring run.
• A Kirk jumper followed by an Ahale 3-pointer gave the Flames their largest lead of the game at 28-23. IUPUI countered with a 7-1 run to end the half and take an eventual five-point lead into the break.
• Kirk and Bridges each had nine first-half points while Kirk added six rebounds in the opening half.
• The Flames kept within striking distance thanks to a 13-for-16 effort from the free throw line.

 
How It Happened – Second Half

• UIC stormed out of the gate in the second half, using a 6-2 run to open the half and pull within a point of the Jags. A pair of Rob Howard buckets sandwiched a Kirk layup.
• IUPUI kept UIC's comeback attempt at bay, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line over the final 39 seconds of the game to secure the eventual seven-point victory.

 
News and Notes

• The 21 points by Kirk are the third-most for the redshirt junior this year, with all three 20+ point performances coming against Horizon League competition.
• Mitchell's 15 points are the second-most the junior has scored against a Horizon League opponent, trailing the 19-point effort Mitchell had against Oakland to open conference play.