CHICAGO – The UIC men's basketball team was back in action Saturday afternoon, as it hosted Evansville for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off from Credit Union 1 Arena. The Flames trailed by one point at the half, but would have a strong second half to win their first game of the 2023 calendar year.
 
FIRST HALF
 

• UIC struggled from the field to start Saturday's game, making just five of it's first 18 attempts from the field.
• This shooting, in part, allowed the Aces to jump out to a 17-9 lead to start the contest.
• Jace Carter led the way for the Flames in the first half, scoring nine points and adding five rebounds.
• Steven Clay surpassed his career-high of nine points in the first half alone, scoring 10 points to lead all scorers at the break, with the Flames trailing 30-29.

 
SECOND HALF
 

• The Flames had a much better start to the second half than the first, re-gaining the lead that they hadn't had since leading 3-0 to start the game. They would make seven of their first 14 attempts in the half, establishing an 11-point advantage before the 10-minute mark.
• Carter would secure his double-double in the second half, his second in as many home games (25 points, 10 rebounds vs. Bradley Jan. 29), scoring four points in the first 15 minutes of the half, to go with another five rebounds in the same period of time.
• Clay would finish the game with his new career-high of 17 points, one of three Flames in double figures for the game (Carter, 15 points; Anderson, 15 points).
• UIC would go on to win the game by a final score of 70-61, the Flames' first win since Dec. 28 against Illinois State.

 
UP NEXT
 
The Flames will head out on the road next week for a two-game road trip. UIC will visit Southern Illinois on Wednesday before traveling to Belmont for a Saturday afternoon tip-off. Check back on UICFlames.com for all of the up-to-date information on both of those matchups.