VIDEO: Highlights | Postgame Press Conference

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State had four players in double figures and UIC held off a late rally by the Vikings to defeat CSU, 87-80, on Saturday afternoon in the Wolstein Center.

Tyree Appleby led the Vikings with 19 points, six rebounds and a career-high tying seven assists. It is the fifth game this year that he has dished out seven assists.

Jamarcus Hairston scored 16 points – hitting 4-of-7 from three point – and added seven rebounds and a blocked shot, while Kasheem Thomas finished with 13 points and five rebounds. He went 11-of-12 at the free throw line, both career-highs.

Kenny Carpenter scored 10 points with four rebounds and Stefan Kenic added five points and six rebounds.

CSU is now 5-16 overall and 2-6 in the Horizon League, while the Flames improved to 10-11 overall (5-3 HL).

The first half featured four ties and 11 lead changes as a Carpenter three-pointer at the 6:49 mark of the half gave the Vikings a 23-21 lead. UIC followed with 11 straight points to open up its largest lead of the half (32-23) with 4:30 to play.

The lead was still nine points (34-25) at the 3:17 mark, but a 13-1 spurt by the Vikings gave them a 38-35 lead on a pair of Appleby free throws with 36 seconds left. However, a UIC dunk cut the lead to one point and Michael Diggins hit a three-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Flames a 40-38 lead at halftime.

UIC built on that run coming out of the locker room, using an 18-4 run to take a 58-42 lead at the 14:24 mark. The lead was 79-59 with five minutes to play, but the Vikings scored 12 straight points to cut the lead to 79-71 with 1:43 left, forcing a UIC timeout.

Bobby Word's three-pointer with 8.8 seconds left pulled CSU within five points (85-80), but UIC hit eight free throws over the final 1:20 to maintain the lead down the stretch.

CSU returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 25) when the Vikings play at Green Bay at 8:00 pm in the Resch Center.