It would've taken more or less one of the biggest miracles in the history of college basketball for the Illinois-Chicago Flames (8-22, 3-15) to win the Horizon League Tournament and make the Big Dance, and they didn't get very far Tuesday, losing 68-55 in the opening round to the Milwaukee Panthers. The Flames were down at the half 35-14, and though they played much better in the second half, it wasn't nearly enough to overcome that initial deficit.
UIC's offense had trouble putting the ball in the basket on Tuesday, as the Flames shot 32% from the field as a team and 27% from three point range. Leading scorer Hayden Hurnes (14 points) was efficient on the night, shooting 5-9 from the field, but guard Gary Talton went 3-10 from the field and fellow guard Daniel Barnes went 1-9 from the field off the bench. The Panthers were solid all night, handling the Flames on the glass and shooting 43% from the field as a team and 44% from three.
The Flames end the season having lost 8 of their last 10 games, with the two wins coming over the Youngstown State Penguins and the Eastern Illinois Panthers.