UIC Athletics

CHICAGO – In a heated rivalry games between prior conference foes, the UIC men's basketball team dropped a 70-63 decision to Loyola Friday (Nov. 11) evening inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
Tre Anderson was 1-of-3 scorers to finish in double figures for the Flames as he scored a game-high 20 points to go along with three assists and four steals. Jace Carter finished with 17 points while Toby Okani reached double figures with 10.
 
UIC scored the five unanswered points to take an early 7-2 lead. Carter did all of the scoring in the run, picking up three at the free throw line before converting a layup the next time down the court. Loyola would bounce back and eventually take its largest lead of the half at eight points with just under 10 minutes remaining. Back-to-back buckets by Anderson and Christian Jones pulled UIC within one at 27-26 with 5:47 to play and the teams would battle back and forth down the stretch, with Loyola taking a 3-point lead into the break.
 
Anderson connected on UIC's first 3-pointer of the night with 16:58 to play in the second half to put the Flames back in front, 37-36. The Flames advantage would grow to as many as five in the second half, as Jalen Jackson and Carter converted back-to-back layups to put the hosts in front by a 47-42 margin with 13:14 to play.
 
The lead would hold until a 10-0 Loyola run put the Ramblers in front, 57-52 with just over six minutes remaining in the contest. The Rambler lead would grow to as many as nine down the stretch, but the Flames battled back, as a pair by Carter from the free throw line made it four-point game with 1:46 remaining. Untimely turnovers by UIC down the stretch prevented the Flames from closing the gap any further as Loyola held off the late surge.
 
UIC closes out a three-game homestand to open the season on Monday, Nov. 14, when the Flames play host to Jacksonville State. Tipoff inside Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 7 p.m.
 
News and Notes

• UIC forced Loyola into 25 turnovers and capitalized on the other end, outscoring the Ramblers, 25-17, in points off turnovers.
• The Flames picked up 12 steals in the contest, with Jones (5) and Anderson (4) accounting for nine of the swipes.
• UIC was +7 in points at the free throw line, connecting on 21 freebies while Loyola had 14 from the charity stripe.