Wright State rallies from 14-point deficit to beat UIC 88-81

Feb 26, 2018, 02:11 am

CHICAGO -- Loudon Love had his 12th double-double and fellow-freshman Everett Winchester scored a season-high 19 points to help Wright State overcome a 14-point deficit and beat Illinois-Chicago 88-81 on Sunday.

Wright State (21-9, 13-4 Horizon League) will be the No. 2 seed and, as well as third-seeded UIC (17-13, 12-5), will have a first-round bye in the conference tournament, which begins Friday in Detroit.

Love finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. Grant Benzinger added 21 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Raiders.

Mark Hughes, who scored all of his 11 points in the second half, hit a 3 to give Wright State an 82-79 lead with three minutes left. Dikembe Dixson's layup pulled the Flames within one a minute later, but Winchester answered with a putback and then a jumper before Cole Gentry made two free throws to end it.

Dixson finished with 19 points and Tarkus Ferguson added 13 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Flames.

Marcus Ottey made back-to-back baskets to give the Flames a 14-point lead, but Wright State scored 10 of the final 14 first-half points, including eight by Love, to make it 51-43 at the break. Hughes converted a 3-point play and then hit a 3-pointer before a tip-in by Winchester capped a 12-4 run to open the second half and Benzinger's 3-pointer gave the Raiders their first lead since the opening minutes at 58-57.