CHICAGO -- Sophomore Tyree Appleby poured in a game-high 23 points, but UIC connected on 17 three-pointers leading the Flames to a 73-56 victory over Cleveland State in a Horizon League game on Saturday in Credit Union 1 Arena.
Appleby finished the game 5-of-12 from the floor and 10-of-14 from the free throw line to pace the Vikings. It marked his 15th double-figure scoring game of the season and the eighth time this year he has scored at least 20 points. He also added five rebounds and two assists.
Stefan Kenic reached double figures in scoring for the second straight game with 10 points, while also grabbing seven rebounds. Seth Millner finished with seven points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Vikings, while Jaalam Hill added five points and three boards.
Tarkus Ferguson led four players in double figure scoring for UIC with 18 points. He made 6-of-14 three-point attempts and also had seven rebounds and six assists.
Marcus Ottey had 15 points, while Jamie Ahale had 12 points and Jordan Blount scored 11 points for the Flames.
UIC, which improved to 9-9 overall and 3-2 in conference play, tied the Flames school record for three-pointers with 17 and three-point attempts with 38. The 17 three-point baskets marks the second-most that Cleveland State has allowed behind only the 20 made by Butler in 2007.
Cleveland State, which dropped to 5-14 overall and 0-6 in the Horizon League, shot 32.7 percent from the floor for the game.
UIC opened the game on a 22-4 run, which included six three-point baskets, to take an 18-point lead with 11:27 to play in the opening half.
Cleveland State would answer to get back into the game. The Vikings reeled off a 10-0 run, sparked by six points from Appleby, to climb to within 22-14 with 4:54 to play before halftime.
The Flames pushed the lead back to 13 points, but Cleveland State trimmed the margin to 33-26 at the intermission.
UIC then opened the second half with a 12-4 run to extend the margin to 45-30 with 17:19 to play in the game.
Cleveland State was unable to get the deficit under 11 points during the remainder of the game.
The Vikings return to Wolstein Arena on Thursday (Jan. 17) when it begins a three-game homestand by hosting Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m.
