MILWAUKEE – Eighth-seeded UIC went on the road to open the 2022 Keeps Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship Tuesday night and knocked out No. 9 Milwaukee, 80-69, at UWM Panther Arena.
Five Flames poured in double figures in the victory, highlighted by a game-high 21 points from
Kevin Johnson, including 13 in the second half.
Michael Diggins added 13, while
Filip Skobalj,
Damaria Franklin and
Jalen Warren all chipped in 12 apiece.
UIC shot 47% overall and 42% from 3-point range Tuesday, making 11 shots from downtown.
Opening the second half with a seven-point lead that was built largely over the final three minutes of the first half, UIC pushed the lead to 15 points with just over five minutes gone by on a 3-pointer from Skobalj. Milwaukee pushed back and climbed within four with under four minutes to play, but that was as close as it would come. Diggins made two free throws out of a break to push the lead to six and the Flames never looked back.
The Flames and Panthers engaged in a defensive battle throughout much of the opening 20 minutes. UIC shot south of 30% over the first 14 minutes of the opening and half, while connecting on only two of 11 attempts from beyond the arc. The Flames closed the half with a vengeance, however.
UIC made six of its final seven field goal attempts to end the half with lone misfire coming when Skobalj's 3-point attempt at the buzzer rimmed out. The surge helped visitors turn a slim two-point deficit with just over three minutes to go into a seven-point lead at the break. The run started on a 3-pointer from Franklin, featured a pair of triples from Skobalj, and saw
Kevin Johnson knock down a tough mid-range bucket.
The Flames finished the first half shooting 41.9% from the field and 33% from downtown.
UIC advances to the quarterfinal on Thursday, March 3, when it will travel to take on No. 2 Purdue Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. CT. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Mastodons got the best of the Flames in the only meeting between the two squads this season, winning at home 73-66 on February 12.
Fans interested in attending the contest can purchase seats through Ticketmaster today.
Notes
- Freshman Filip Skobalj scored in double figures for the sixth time this season. His 12 points were his highest output since pouring in 14 at Purdue Fort Wayne on February 12. The Serbian matched a career high with four 3-point field goals.
- In the last two games against Milwaukee, newcomer Jace Carter hauled in 18 rebounds.
- The Flames took advantage of Milwaukee's miscues, scoring 21 points off 13 Panther turnovers.
- UIC has made at least seven 3-pointers in 13 of its 14 victories this season, including Tuesday night.
- All nine players who saw the court scored at least two points. It's the first time every UIC player who got in the game netted a bucket since January 13, also at Milwaukee.
- The Flames won for the seventh time when scoring at least 80 points. They are 6-2 in such contests.
- Luke Yaklich's bunch won for the eighth time away from home this season. That's the team's highest total for a season since going 9-8 in true road games during the 2017-18 campaign.
- The Flames used their 13th different starting lineup of this season Tuesday. The group featured Jace Carter, Michael Diggins, Damaria Franklin, Jalen Warren, and Kevin Johnson. It was the third different starting five in three games against the Panthers this year.
- UIC advances to at least the quarterfinal round of the Horizon League Championship for the second time in the last three seasons.
