CHICAGO — On Friday night, Tyem Freeman made a significant impact off the bench, contributing 19 points to lead UIC to a 91-79 win against Yale.
Freeman also recorded five rebounds for the Flames, who improved their record to 2-0. Jordan Mason supported the team with 16 points, shooting 5 of 7 from the field and adding 6 of 9 from the free-throw line. Notably, Sasa Ciani added 13 points, finishing the game with an efficient 6 of 9 shooting performance.

The Bulldogs, now at 1-1, saw John Poulakidas emerge as their top scorer, tallying 21 points. Bez Mbeng contributed a solid all-around effort with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Yassine Gharram also made his mark with 13 points and 10 rebounds, showcasing his ability on both ends of the court.

In the first half, Freeman’s eight points helped the Flames stay competitive, although they went into the halftime break trailing 41-34. However, UIC turned the tide in the second half, jumping ahead with a powerful 15-0 run that transformed a seven-point deficit into a 49-41 lead just over four minutes into the half. Mason played a crucial role during this period, adding 12 points in the second half to secure the victory for UIC.