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Jaden Brownell
Mark Black

Men's Basketball Earns Exhibition Victory Over Clayton State

Flames Use Stifling Defense To Hold Lakers to 47 Points

10/31/2023 9:26:00 PM

CHICAGO (Oct. 31, 2023) – Redshirt sophomore forward Jaden Brownell (Sandy, Utah/Alta) registered a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while junior guard Ethan Pickett (Pensacola, Fla./Cherokee/Triton) added 11 points to fuel a balanced UIC attack in a 71-47 exhibition win over Clayton State on Tuesday night at Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
COACHES COMMENT 
"We were extremely happy with how we defended tonight," commented head coach Luke Yaklich. "We played up-tempo on defense without fouling, and the turnovers we forced led to easy chances at the other end. Our bench production was also a bright spot, providing valuable minutes when called upon."
 
FIRST HALF
• The UIC defense was solid in the opening portion of the first half, holding the visiting Lakers to a mere six points over the first six-plus minutes of the contest.
• Brownell matched Clayton State's output all by himself with six early points.
• The Flames got a pair of buckets from Pickett as part of an 8-0 run to grab a 16-13 lead with just over eight minutes to go in the first half.
• UIC found its offensive rhythm down the stretch with a 13-0 run over a 4:44 stretch, highlighted by a pair of Brownell dunks and four added points from Pickett, heading to the locker room with a 32-25 lead.
 
SECOND HALF
• The Flames needed less than four minutes to rebuild a double-digit advantage, grabbing a 41-29 lead at the 16:12 mark on an offensive rebound and layup from senior guard Isaiah Rivera (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo/Colorado State).
• Clayton State looked to find its way back into the game, but UIC kept the Lakers at arm's length with a combination of sharp defense that sparked a strong second-half transition game.
• The Flames put the game on ice with a 28-5 game-ending run, holding Clayton State to just one basket and three free throws over the final 13:06 of the contest.
• Senior guard and preseason third-team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection Toby Okani (Orange, N.J./Cushing Academy (Mass.)) ignited the run with a mid-range jumper, followed by a thunderous dunk-and-one with 11:28 to play.
• UIC forced nine Clayton State turnovers and limited the Lakers to 1-of-15 shooting during the decisive second-half run.
 
NOTES
• UIC has now won 14 consecutive exhibition games, a streak that began prior to the 2010-11 season.
• Had it been a regular season game, Brownell would have recorded his first career double-double — his career highs last year were 12 points (Feb. 11, 2023, at Belmont) and six rebounds (Nov. 7, 2022, vs. Trinity Christian), totals he had either surpassed or tied before halftime of Tuesday's exhibition.
 
UP NEXT
UIC opens the 2023-24 regular season next Monday, Nov. 6, when the Flames travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats. Tip-off from Fifth Third Arena is slated for 8 p.m. (CT) and the matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbband @uicflames).
 
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