UIC came out absolutely firing on Monday, dropping a massive 96-47 win on Saint Francis of Illinois in what was the season opener for both squads. Mekhi Lowery was an absolute force, pouring in 20 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and swiping four steals to kick things off. This wasn’t some slow build, either. UIC took the lead for good with 19:33 left in the first half, and honestly, Saint Francis barely stood a chance after that.
Lowery Lights It Up From the Jump
Seriously, Lowery was on another level. He had 16 points by halftime alone, showing everyone he came to play from the first whistle. But it wasn’t a one-man show, not even close. Rashund Washington Jr. put up 15 points, hitting three of five from the field and going a solid nine of 12 from the free-throw line. And then you had Jayce Nathaniel, who was a beast on the boards with 10 rebounds, adding 13 points on an efficient five of seven shooting. Ahmad Henderson II closed out the win strong, leading the team with 10 points in the second half. This team looked locked in for an opener.
Saint Francis Had No Answers
From the moment UIC grabbed that lead early in the first half, Saint Francis was just trying to keep up, and it was clear they couldn’t. The Flames were already up 51-31 at halftime. UIC didn’t just maintain that lead, they blew it wide open in the second half, fueled by a ridiculous 19-2 scoring run that stretched their advantage to 96-44 at one point. Bryce Tillery and Nick Niego each had 12 points for the Fighting Saints, and Tavariyuan Williams added nine points and two blocks, but it was nowhere near enough to counter UIC’s onslaught.
UIC is back home on Friday for a matchup against Robert Morris. If they bring even half this energy, it’s gonna be another good one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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