CHICAGO – Following a lengthy week-long layoff, UIC brought a big effort on both the offensive and defensive ends Friday night as it posted a 78-64 victory over the Detroit Mercy Titans at the UIC Pavilion.
 
Offensively, the Flames shot a season-high 57.8 percent from the field, while eclipsing 50 percent (53.3 percent) from 3-point range for the third time this season. On defense, UIC held the Titans to a shooting percentage of 31 percent in the first half and 38.1 percent for the game. Tarkus Ferguson matched a career high for the second consecutive game with three steals, while Tai Odiase matched a season high with eight blocks, including six in the first half.
 
Four Flames scored in double figures, led by Ferguson's team-high 16 points. Marcus Ottey added 12, all in the second half, while Odiase and Michael Kolawole each tallied 11. Freshmen guards Godwin Boahen and Ferguson each paced the squad with six boards.
 
How It Happened

• The Flames got off to a sluggish start with turnovers on their first three possessions of the game, helping Detroit Mercy push its way out to an early 9-2 advantage with 4:02 gone by in the ballgame.
• Kyle Guice entered the game following a timeout and he canned a 3-pointer from the left side that ignited a 9-0 run which gave UIC its first lead when Tai Odiase ripped off the rim with his second demonstrative dunk of the spurt.
• The Flames held the Titans off the scoreboard for nearly three minutes as they pushed the lead up to seven points when Guice buried another effort from 3-point range with 9:49 to go in the half.
• Overall, UIC went on a lengthy 20-4 surge that ended on two consecutive buckets from Michael Kolawole with just under four minutes left in the period. With 3:56 to go, UIC led, 31-18.
• The Flames got the lead up to 15 points on two occasions in the closing minutes. The second time gave UIC its halftime edge of 40-25 after Odiase pinned Jarod Williams' shot to the backboard on one end and then beat the shot clock on the other end with an acrobatic layup.
• The Flames pushed the lead to 20 points when Ottey drilled a triple off a feed from Boahen.
• After Ferguson sank a pair of free throws with 11:37 to go in the contest, UIC's offense sputtered. The Titans went on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 12 before Ferguson found Ottey in traffic and the latter elevated for a two-handed slam with 8:34 remaining.
• Detroit Mercy made only one 3-pointer in the first half, but the Titans used five second-half triples to hang around. The visitors chopped the deficit down to 10 points  with just under two minutes to go, but Ottey quickly answered with a 3-pointer from in front of UIC's bench on the next possession, and the Flames didn't look back.

 
Beyond The Box Score

• The Flames shot over 50 percent from the field for the fourth time this season and they are 4-0 when reaching that mark. The team is 5-0 this season when holding the opposition under 40 percent, as they did Friday.
• UIC is unbeaten, 7-0, when leading at the half this season. The Flames owned a 15-point edge at the break against the Titans and it was the fourth time this season they led by at least 15 points after 20 minutes of play.
• Head coach Steve McClain's squad has shown great resiliency. The Flames have lost back-to-back games only one time and they are 6-1 following a loss this season.
• UIC's bench produced 30 points Friday as it outscored the Detroit Mercy reserves by 16 points. The Flames outscored the Titans in the first half in that category, 24-5. Kolawole and Dominique Matthews each had eight points at the break, while Guice had six on two 3-pointers.
• Ferguson matched a season high with 16 points for the second game in a row. The Belleville, Ill., native has hit that mark three times in 15 collegiate contests.
• Boahen (7) and Ferguson (6) combined for 13 assists, two more than Detroit Mercy's entire lineup (11). Boahen has led the Flames in helpers eight times, one shy of Ferguson's nine.
• Odiase blocked eight shots for the second time this season. He first accomplished the feat in UIC's home opener against UTSA on Nov. 16. The Glenwood, Ill., native has blocked at least four shots in five games this season, and at least one in 25 of UIC's last 26 contests.
• As a team, UIC blocked 11 shots, the most in the McClain era. The team's previous high was 10 in a five-point win against Wright State on Feb. 11, 2016. Odiase had seven blocks for the Flames that night and he would go on to earn Horizon League Co-Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career a few days later.
• The victory ended a two-game winning streak for the Titans in this series.

 
What's Next?

• The Flames will conclude their season-long six-game homestand on Sunday, Jan. 8, when they host the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at 4 p.m. CT.
• Oakland entered the weekend with an overall record of 12-3 and an unblemished 2-0 mark in Horizon League play. The Golden Grizzlies had a late game at Valparaiso Friday night.
• Sunday's game can be seen on the American Sports Network, which is carried locally by Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Check your local listings for channel information.