CHARLOTTE — UIC freshman guard Andy Johnson scored a team-high 16 points and classmate/backcourt partner Rashund Washington Jr. added 12 points and a career high-tying seven rebounds, but Charlotte scored the tying basket in the closing seconds of regulation and then did not miss a shot in overtime to take an 88-76 decision over the Flames on Sunday afternoon at Halton Arena in Charlotte, N.C.
Graduate student guard Josiah Hammons scored 11 points and junior guard Ahmad Henderson II chipped in 10 points for the Flames (4-8), who led for nearly the final 28 minutes of regulation and by as many as nine points on four occasions. After the 49ers (6-7) tied the score at 69-69 on a free throw with 42 seconds left, junior guard Mekhi Lowery came up with a clutch hook shot in the lane with 24.8 seconds remaining to put UIC back in front. Charlotte's Ben Bradford then found a sliver of daylight over three Flames' defenders to score the tying basket with 6.3 seconds to go, forcing the extra session.
Lowery converted another bucket on UIC's opening possession of overtime for a 73-71 lead, but the 49ers responded with a 7-0 run that ended with a pair of foul shots by Henderson with 2:26 left. However, Charlotte's Arden Conyers knocked down a three-pointer just before the shot clock expired on the next possession and the hosts would salt the game away with seven consecutive free throws, closing out a 30-of-35 day at the charity stripe.
The full box score and play-by-play recap from Sunday's game at Charlotte can be found here.
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SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UIC was playing its first overtime game since Jan. 15, 2025 (a 97-93 double-overtime win over Murray State at Credit Union 1 Arena). Sunday's loss snapped the Flames' four-game winning streak in overtime games, their first OT defeat since Feb. 28, 2024 (a 107-105 triple-overtime loss to Drake, also at Credit Union 1 Arena).
- Seven of UIC's 12 games this season have been decided by 10 points or fewer (1-6 record), including each of the Flames' last three games (decided by three points at Belmont, six points at home vs. UNI, in overtime at Charlotte) and four of their last five. In four of these six close losses this year, UIC has had the final possession of regulation and got a clean shot off to tie or win the game.
- Washington's seven rebounds matched his career high first set on Nov. 15 at Chicago State.
- Johnson finished two points off his career high set on Nov. 26 at Robert Morris. He also tied his career high with two steals for the fifth time this year.
- Graduate student forward Abdul Momoh blocked three shots on Sunday, the sixth time this year he has posted multiple blocks in a game.
- Graduate student guard Sam Silverstein had a season-high four steals, one off his career high set against Siena on Nov. 20, 2022, when he was attending Harvard.
UP NEXT: ILLINOIS TECH
After a season-long eight-day break, UIC returns to action Dec. 29, hosting Illinois Tech at 3 p.m. (CT) in the nightcap of a doubleheader (UIC women vs. Drake at noon CT). Fans may purchase discounted tickets for this game (and all UIC men's and women's home games through Jan. 4) for $5 each by going online to Ticketmaster and using the promo code "HOLIDAY". This promotion is available for all lower level sideline and baseline tickets for UIC men's games during the promotional window, while all general admission tickets at UIC women's games are eligible for the online discount.Â
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
UIC basketball season and single-game tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster (Men's Basketball or Women's Basketball), UICFlames.com/Tickets or by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office at (312) 413-UIC1 (8421) or athleticsticketing@uic.edu. UIC students are admitted free for all Flames' home games.
In addition, the US Solar Courtside Club is open for each game at Credit Union 1 Arena, with Club passes available for purchase through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office or at the Courtside Club entrance on game nights. Located just steps away from the action on the event level at Credit Union 1 Arena, the US Solar Courtside Club provides a premium experience for all UIC basketball fans, including enhanced food and beverage options. The Club also offers luxury seating and flat-screen televisions, and fans will have earlier access to the arena through a dedicated separate gate entrance, allowing them to get a quicker start on supporting their Flames each and every night.
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
For more information on UIC men's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb and @uicflames).
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