GREEN BAY, Wis. – UIC scored the first basket of the game and never looked back Saturday evening, cruising to an 80-63 wire-to-wire road victory over Green Bay.
 
Four Flames scored in double figures, led by Damaria Franklin who scored 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting in just 22:45 of action. Kevin Johnson added 16 points and six rebounds, Jalen Warren chipped in 10 off the bench and Jace Carter fell one rebound shy of a double-double with 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
 
UIC kept the game out of reach thanks largely to a 22-for-26 effort from the free throw line, including a 17-for-20 performance in the second half. Warren and Michael Diggins each went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the contest.
 
Carter knocked down a triple to open the game and added a second a few minutes later as the Flames quickly jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first 3:02 of action. The tandem of Carter and Franklin scored UIC's first 10 points in the contest.
 
Johnson scored five consecutive points to give the visitors their first double digit lead at 15-5 with 14:43 remaining in the first half. UIC's lead would fluctuate between seven and 13 points in the first half and would settle at 11 at the final horn as the Flames took a 36-25 lead into the break.
 
UIC kept its foot on the gas coming out of the break, scoring the first four points of the second half and pushing the lead to 18 with 16:59 remaining. A 10-0 run over 2:49 put the Flames comfortably in front, 63-41, with 9:34 left in the game. Diggins and Warren scored four points each while Franklin started the run with a driving layup. The Flames cruised to the final whistle, leading by at least 13 points for the remainder of the game.
 
The Flames return home for a pair of home games next weekend, starting on Thursday against Northern Kentucky. Tip-off inside Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 7 p.m.
 
News and Notes

• The 22 made free throws are the most by the Flames this season and most in a single game under Luke Yaklich. The 26 total attempts are the second-most this season for the team.
• UIC improved to 5-1 on the year when outrebounding its opponent, owning a slim 36-35 advantage over the Phoenix Saturday evening.
• The Flames picked up their first win inside the Resch Center since a 63-55 victory on Feb. 18, 2004. UIC last win on the road over Green Bay came on Feb. 16, 2018, in a game that was played inside Green Bay's Kress Center.
• Five of UIC's six wins entering the game had been by five points or fewer. The Flames picked up their first win by 10 or more points since defeating Trinity Christian, 91-50, on Nov. 16.