CHICAGO, Ill. — The Cougars fell to the Flames 67-63 in a tightly contested matchup at the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center. The game featured 12 ties and 10 lead changes, highlighting the competitive nature of the contest. Chicago State capitalized on UIC's turnovers, scoring 18 points off 14 turnovers. Despite trailing by four points at the final whistle, the Cougars showcased resilience, with 32 points scored in the paint.
The first half began with a balanced exchange between Chicago State University and the University of Illinois at Chicago, as both teams sought to establish control. UIC opened the scoring with a layup from Ante Beljan, assisted by Andy Johnson, taking an early 4-0 lead. The Cougars responded with a series of plays, including a fast-break layup by
Braelon Bush at 17:03, bringing the score to 6-4 in favor of UIC. The home team gained momentum with a 10-2 run highlighted by a three-pointer from
CJ Ray at 12:41, pushing the score to 18-10. The Flames fought back, tying the game at 29 before the half concluded with Josiah Hammons completing a three-point play with 50 seconds left. The first half ended deadlocked at 29-29.
Marcus Tankersley assisted
Stephen Byard's layup to give the Cougars an early lead in the second half. UIC's Andy Johnson responded quickly with a fast-break 3-pointer and a jumper, putting the visitors ahead by one point. Chicago State's
Braelon Bush briefly regained the lead with a 3-pointer at the 8:18 mark, but Rashund Washington Jr.'s dunk brought the score level again. In the final tense moments, Johnson's 3-pointer and subsequent UIC free throws secured a 66-63 victory for the visitors.
In their next game, Chicago State will travel to face Minnesota at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The contest is set for Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. CT.
