UIC let a second-half lead slip through its hands for the second consecutive game as Illinois State rallied from behind to post a 72-60 victory at the UIC Pavilion Wednesday night. The Flames displayed a tenacious defensive effort throughout the first half, as they limited the Redbirds to 32.4 percent shooting from the floor, while forcing five turnovers. The first 20 minutes alone featured 10 lead changes and six tie scores. After taking a three-point cushion into the locker room at the half, the Flames expanded their advantage to eight points when Paris Burns connected on a 3-point attempt with 15:20 remaining in the ballgame. ISU’s Griffin Roland scored on the other end, but UIC’s Dominique Matthews quickly restored the advantage to eight with a pair of free throws, two six he would sink on the night. Following Matthews’ freebies, Illinois State ratcheted up the defensive pressure. Three UIC turnovers and an ISU blocked shot later, the home team’s advantage was down to one with just over 12 minutes remaining. The Flames faltered offensively and the Redbirds used an eight-point surge to take the lead for good, 55-49, with 8:25 to go in the contest. Illinois State pushed its lead to as many as 15 points on three occasions as it rebounded from a tough shooting effort in the first half to connect on 48.3 percent of its attempts in the second. On the other side, the Redbirds turned UIC over six times in the second stanza and limited the home team to only seven field goals in 29 efforts. ISU scored 11 points off those six miscues, while the Flames failed to net a basket off of the four turnovers by the visitors. Matthews lead all scorers with a career-high 20 points Wednesday, marking the second consecutive contest in which he posted a personal best. The Chicagoan also matched his career high with five rebounds and handed out a career-high four assists while playing 39 minutes. Paris Burns also chipped in with a season-high 14 points for the Flames, including 10 in the second half. He added a pair of helpers, a steal and a board. Freshman Dikembe Dixson posted his second consecutive double-double Wednesday night with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. The reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Week matched a career high with four assists as he played a career-high 39 minutes. UIC will hit the road for its next contest, but it will not have to travel very far. The Flames will make the short trip to Chicago’s north side to battle the Loyola Ramblers on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. The squad will make its return to the Pavilion on Tuesday, Dec. 22 when it hosts Purdue-Calumet in the penultimate nonconference affair. NOTES—UIC has used eight different starting lineups through eight games … The Flames shot a season-high 82.6 percent (19-of-23) from the free-throw line … Dominique Matthews scored a career-high 20 points … Paris Burns scored a season-high 14 points … UIC used a season-low eight players against Illinois State … Jake Wiegand played in his 100th game in a UIC uniform … Wiegand corralled six rebounds, his highest output since Nov. 13 vs. San Francisco … Dikembe Dixson matched a career high with 10 rebounds for the second game in a row … Dixson led UIC in rebounding for the fifth time … The Flames are 1-4 against in-state opponents this season … Illinois State won for the 15th time in the series