CHICAGO (AP) - Jalen Hayes scored 20 points and got a key block at the buzzer to lift Oakland past UIC for a 58-57 win Sunday.
It was one of a Horizon League record 18 blocked shots for the Golden Grizzlies. Xavier Hill-Mais had six, Isaiah Brock added five and Hayes finished with three. Oakland’s previous single-game high was 14.
Oakland (14-3, 4-0 Horizon) trailed by six at the break but used an 11-1 run that included a 3-pointer from Sherron Dorsey-Walker to take a 50-45 lead midway through the second half. The Flames fought back, retaking the lead with K.J. Santos’ 3-pointer to go up 57-56 with 2:05 to go.
But Hayes rebounded his own miss and hit the second-chance layup to put Oakland back on top for good with 1:37 left. He blocked a layup at the buzzer to seal the win.
Dorsey-Walker finished with 10 rebounds and eight points for Oakland, which dominated on defense. The Golden Warriors held Oakland to just 18 field goals and 24 percent shooting.
Tarkus Ferguson’s 15 points and 10 rebounds led three UIC (8-8, 1-2) players in double figures.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.