Illinois-Chicago Basketball | Bleacher Report CMS

UIC Had to Play Horizon League Quarterfinals at Loyola Due to Robotics Contest

Mar 6, 2020

A basketball with a logo is seen before a first round men's college basketball game between Minnesota and Louisville in the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The University of Illinois at Chicago borrowed Joseph J. Gentile Arena from Loyola University to host its quarterfinal matchup with Youngstown State in the 2020 Horizon League Men's basketball tournament. It needed to find an alternative court because its home floor, Credit Union 1 Arena, was booked for a robotics competition.

How about UIC beating Youngstown State tonight in Horizon quarters at Loyola. Former AD booked arena for a robotics competition so instead of hosting the game as No. 4 seed, Steve McClain &. Co. forced to play down the road at Loyola. Now play at No. 1 Wright State on Monday.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 6, 2020

UIC scored a 67-61 victory over the Penguins to advance even without the benefit of its traditional home-court advantage. The Flames will face top-seeded Wright State in the semifinals Monday.

Michael Diggins led the way with 17 points for the Flames, who built a nine-point halftime lead and held off a second-half rally from Youngstown State.

Marcus Ottey (10 points) was the only other UIC player to reach double figures in scoring. Tarkus Ferguson added six points, 13 rebounds and four assists.

The Flames also benefited from a 49-36 rebounding advantage.

https://twitter.com/UICFlamesMBB/status/1235763543754125312

Garrett Covington paced the Penguins with 17 points. Youngstown State shot 36.9 percent from the field, including 25 percent from beyond the arc, and made just seven of its 12 free throws (58.3 percent).

UIC is now two victories away from a berth in the 2020 NCAA tournament.

The remainder of the Horizon League tourney will take place at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis.