CHICAGO – The UIC men's basketball team returned home Tuesday night, as the Drake Bulldogs were in town for a 7:00 p.m. contest at Credit Union 1 Arena. In a back-and-forth contest that took overtime to settle, the Flames fell just short of the Bulldogs by a final score of 76-71.
 
FIRST HALF

• Jace Carter provided an early spark for UIC Tuesday, as his first two three-point baskets fell, helping get the Flames to an early 12-4 advantage.
• The sophomore would not be denied early on, as he added two baskets inside the arc to help keep UIC ahead in the first eight minutes.
• The Flames defense forced an early five turnovers, netting nine points on those turnovers.
• UIC would go on to hit five threes in the first half and entered the locker room with a five-point advantage.

 
SECOND HALF

• The Bulldogs opened the half on an 11-0 run, giving them their first lead of the contest in the second half at the 16-minute mark at 37-35.
• UIC would finally end their scoring drought at the 13:45 mark, as a Tre Anderson three-pointer brought the Bulldogs lead down to three.
• Making seven of his first eight shots in the game, Toby Okani led the way with 16 points as the game reached the five minute mark in the second half.
• By the time the game reached the under-four minute media timeout, there had been eight lead changes to go along with four ties.
• The game would stay close throughout the second half, and a Tre Anderson layup with 9.3 seconds remaining would send the game to overtime at 61-61, and also give Anderson 10 points for the contest.

 
OVERTIME

• Filip Skobalj would tie the game back at 63 with a layup at the 2:59 mark of overtime, making him the fourth double-digit scorer of the game with 11.
• Skobalj would also bring the Flames back within a point with a three at the 0:54 second mark of overtime, but an answering three from sophomore Tucker DeVries would prove to be the difference.

 
UP NEXT
The Flames will hit the road for two straight games, beginning with a Saturday night contest at Murray State. Saturday's tip-off from the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky is slated for 3:00 p.m. CST. A live audio broadcast will be available via UICFlames.com, with the Voice of the Flames Jonathan Hood calling all the play-by-play action along with analyst and former Flame Kenny Williams.