CHICAGO – Behind a game-high 21 points from Zion Griffin, the UIC men's basketball team picked up its second consecutive win with an 81-77 victory over Green Bay Thursday evening inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
The Flames secured the season sweep of the Phoenix thanks largely to a pivotal 15-1 second-half run by UIC that turned a two-point deficit into a 12-point lead. UIC held off a late surge by Green Bay, who got within one possession on a pair of occasions over the final four minutes of action.
 
Zion Griffin, fresh off his career-high 27 points last time out, led all scorers with 21 on 6-for-9 shooting, including a pair of triples. Jalen Warren added 17 off the bench as well for the Flames, who received 40 of their 81 points from non-starters, while Damaria Franklin scored 11 second-half points to finish with 15.
 
For the second consecutive game, UIC's offense came to life after the halftime break. In the Flames' road win at Robert Morris, UIC combined to shoot 52.6% from the field in the second half and overtime before shooting 57.1% against the Phoenix Thursday.
 
Neither team led by more than six points in the first half, with Green Bay building a six-point cushion with 11:45 remaining in the opening 20 minutes. UIC, who only led for 4:47 of the opening half, surged to a halftime lead thanks to a 9-0 run to end the half behind a trio of 3-pointers. Jamie Ahale connected on the first one with 1:16 to go to make it a one-point game, Filip Skobalj knocked one down just over 30 seconds later and Ahale beat the halftime buzzer with his second long ball to send the Flames to the break with a 38-33 lead.
 
The lead would change hands throughout the opening minutes of the second half, before the key 15-1 run put the Flames ahead for good. Green Bay wouldn't make it easy down the stretch, cutting the Flames' 12-point lead down to just a pair with 3:34 to play, but Franklin's step-back jumper on the next possession put the Flames back in front by four.
 
UIC maintained at least a two-possession lead in the closing moments thanks to the free throw line. The Phoenix hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left to pull within three, but an ensuing free throw by Warren pushed the advantage back to four and would close out the 81-77 victory.
 
The Flames close out the regular season on Saturday against Milwaukee. Saturday will serve as Senior Day, with five players and a pair of managers being honored before tip. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will also receive a free Sparky bobblehead. Tip-off inside Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 7 p.m.
 
News and Notes

• Griffin has now scored 20+ points in three contests this year, including the last two consecutive games.
• Michael Diggins recorded a season-high four blocks on the night, one shy of matching his career high.
• The Flames improved to 7-3 when out-rebounding their opponent. Damaria Franklin led the way with eight as UIC owned a slim 33-30 margin on the glass.
• UIC's bench outscored the Phoenix bench by a dominating 40-15 advantage.