MILWAUKEE – A lights-out second half of shooting by the UIC men's basketball team lifted the Flames to an 81-77 victory over Milwaukee Thursday evening on the road.
 
After being limited to just 31.4% shooting from the field in the first half, the Flames exploded to the tune of 20-for-30 (66.7%) shooting over the final 20 minutes of action, including 7-of-13 from 3-point range.
 
The second-half outburst was led by pair of veterans in Kevin Johnson and Damaria Franklin. Johnson, who was held to just two points in the first half, exploded for 26 second-half points. The guard went 9-for-10 from the field in the second half, including a perfect 6-for-6 effort from deep, to finish with a game-high 28 points. Franklin, after being limited to four points in the first half, dropped 14 in the second on 7-for-10 shooting. The duo combined to shoot 80% (16-20) from the field in the final half and scored 40 of UIC's 54 points after halftime.
 
The Flames used a quick 7-0 run over 1:32 to take an early 15-8 lead and force the Panthers to burn a timeout. Filip Skobalj connected on his second triple of the first half to start the run before buckets by Johnson and Warren ended the scoring spree. The Panthers clawed back to take the lead thanks to an extended 18-3 run before Franklin's bucket with 4:10 left ended the run and pulled the Flames within six.
 
UIC and Milwaukee would trade baskets down the stretch, with the Panthers getting a jumper to fall with two seconds left on the clock to take a 34-27 lead into the break. Eight different Flames scored in the opening 20 minutes, led by Skobalj's seven points.
 
It was all Flames coming out of the break, as UIC's offense pulled the visitors back in front. After the teams traded free throws to open the second half, UIC proceeded to go on a 13-0 run over 3:17 to take a 42-36 lead. A pair of triples by Johnson and one by Zion Griffin sparked the run as the Panthers went the first 4:52 of the second half without a field goal.
 
The Panthers had pulled within one at 56-55 with 10:01 left in the game when a pivotal 13-1 run put UIC ahead by 13 with 5:53 to play. Franklin single-handedly contributed eight points, including a stretch of six-straight, while Johnson added the other five.
 
UIC would maintain a comfortable lead until the final two minutes as Milwaukee looked to make a late rally. The Panthers would get within three in the closing seconds, but free throws by Jalen Warren, who added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds off the bench, and Johnson would seal the Flames' victory.
 
News and Notes

• Johnson's 28 points are his most in a Flames uniform and most since he scored 33 on Feb. 8, 2020 against Sam Houston State when he was with Nicholls State.
• UIC picked up its first win of the year when trailing at halftime. The Flames erased a seven-point deficit in the second half.
• Thursday's game was this sixth time this year that the Flames made 10 or more 3-pointers. Five different players made a triple for UIC, led by Johnson's six.
• Thursday marked UIC's seventh consecutive game with a different starting lineup and 10^th game this season with a unique starting five. The opening tip marked the first time this season that Johnson, Franklin, Skobalj, Zion Griffin and Jace Carter had been on the court at the same time this season.