CHICAGO, Ill. - Tyree Appleby set career-highs in points and assists and Cleveland State made 12 three-pointers en route to an 86-78 victory at UIC on Saturday night in Horizon League action.
The Vikings improved to 7-20 overall and 4-10 in the Horizon League, while also picking up their first road victory of the season. UIC, which entered the game in second place in the League, fell to 15-12 overall and 10-4 in the League. The Vikings snapped UIC's seven game win streak as the Flames had also won 10 of their last 11 games entering tonight.
Tonight's win was the second time in the last week that CSU knocked off a top-three team in the League, following last week's 70-67 victory over then first place Wright State.
Appleby scored 25 points and dished out nine assists, just missing his first career double-double. He added four rebounds and two steals. Jamarcus Hairston tied his career-high with 17 points and had nine rebounds, also just missing his first career double-double. Hairston added three assists.
Stefan Kenic scored 13 points with six rebounds, while Kenny Carpenter added 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals and Terrell Hales chipped in eight points and four rebounds off the bench.
The Flames took a 20-15 lead nine minutes into the game, but the Vikings would close the half on a 33-18 run, highlighted by strong three-point shooting, to take a 10-point lead at the break (48-38). CSU hit 11-of-18 from three-point in the first half.
Appleby opened the second half scoring with a jumper to push the lead to 12 points (50-38), which would be the largest lead of the night for the Vikings.
UIC came back to pull within two points (70-68) on a pair of free throws with 6:11 to play. Bobby Word's three-pointer with 2:41 to play gave the Vikings a 77-72 lead, but UIC answered with a three-pointer on the other end to pull back within two (77-75).
But the Vikings would hit seven of eight free throws down the stretch and answer every UIC basket with one of their own en route to the win.
CSU finished 29-of-61 from the floor and hit 12-of-22 from three-point. The Vikings dished out 20 assists on their 29 baskets, while UIC held a slim 39-38 advantage on the glass. The Flames shot just .403 (25-62) from the field.
The Vikings bench contributed 27 points.
CSU is back in action for its final two home games of the season next week, hosting Detroit Mercy on Wednesday (Feb. 14) at 7:00 pm and Oakland on Friday (Feb. 16) at 7:00 pm.