DETROIT, Mich. – A pivotal second-half run by Detroit Mercy proved to be the difference maker Thursday as the Flames dropped an 80-67 decision to the Titans.
 
Four Flames scored in double figures, led by Damaria Franklin's who scored a team-high 17 points while sharing the rebounding lead with five. Zion Griffin scored 14, Jamie Ahale added 12 (all in the first half) and Kevin Johnson chipped in 11 along with seven assists.
 
Despite Detroit Mercy leading for over 10 minutes of the first half, it was a tightly contested opening 20 minutes with six ties and six lead changes. The Titans would grow the advantage to as many as six in the opening half on three separate occasions, with the last one coming with 7:45 remaining. Detroit Mercy's lead wouldn't last long, as 3-pointers by Franklin and Ahale in a span of 23 seconds pulled UIC even at 26-all.
 
The triple was one of four for Ahale in the opening half, as he finished the first 20 minutes a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Ahale's fourth triple of the half came with 53 seconds left to even the score at 33 before Johnson gave the Flames a 35-33 halftime lead with a jumper with 32 ticks left on the clock.
 
Thursday's game turned in the opening minutes of the second half, as Detroit Mercy used a 20-5 run over the first 6:35 to take a 53-40 lead. UIC would eventually use a 7-1 run to pull within seven with 8:54 to go. Michael Diggins started the run with an alley-oop off the feed from Johnson, Filip Skobalj knocked down a triple and Franklin ended the run with a pair at the free throw line.
 
Detroit Mercy ended the run and pushed the lead back to 14, ending UIC's threat to come back in the contest.
 
The Flames remain in the Detroit area to take on Oakland Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. (CT).
 
News and Notes

• The 12 points and four made triples are new season highs for Ahale.
• Franklin scored in double figures for a team-leading 14^th time this season while Johnson scored 10 or more points for the 12^th. Zion reached double figures for the 11^th time this year and 16^th time in a Flames uniform.