UIC earns 87-80 road victory against Cleveland State

Jordan Blount scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead UIC to an 87-80 win over Cleveland State on Saturday.

Godwin Boahen added a team-high 18 points with 6-for-8 shooting, Tarkus Ferguson had 16 points and Tai Odiase got 12 for UIC (10-11, 5-3 Horizon League). It was Blount’s second double-double of the season.

The Flames got a three-pointer from Michael Diggins at the end of the opening half to take a 40-38 advantage into the break and then opened the second half with a 25-6 run. Blount hit five of his eight baskets during the run and the Flames never trailed again.

Cleveland State (5-16, 2-6) tightened it up late in the game with a 12-0 run that included a 3-pointer from Jamarcus Hairston, making it 79-71 with under two minutes left but UIC hung on down the stretch to go 3-0 on the road for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

Tyree Appleby led Cleveland State with 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Hairston finished with 16 points, Kasheem Thomas had 13 and Kenny Carpenter got 10 for the Vikings.