PEORIA, Ill. — UIC sophomore guard Elijah Crawford poured in a career-high 26 points and graduate student guard Josiah Hammons added 18 points off the bench as the Flames (11-10, 6-4 MVC) rolled to their sixth straight Missouri Valley Conference win, 85-70 over Bradley on Saturday night at Carver Arena in Peoria, Ill. It was UIC's second consecutive road win at Bradley, while the Flames' six-game winning streak is their longest since a seven-game run (coincidentally also in conference play, while in the Horizon League) from Jan. 18-Feb. 8, 2018.
Crawford scored 15 of his 26 points in the first half, capped by a running three-pointer just before the halftime horn that gave UIC a 39-28 lead. Hammons then heated up in a big way during the second half, scoring 15 of his 18 points in the final 20 minutes, including 4-of-6 three-pointers and highlighted by a UIC's first four-point play of the season with 5:57 remaining. Freshman guard Andy Johnson chipped in 13 points for the Flames as well.
The full box score and play-by-play recap from Saturday's win at Bradley can be found here.
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UIC's six-game winning streak is its longest since Jan. 18-Feb. 8, 2018, when the Flames won seven in a row, coincidentally also against conference opposition when they were playing in the Horizon League.
- UIC has now won on its last two trips to Carver Arena after not having won in Peoria in its first seven visits.
- The Flames have won back-to-back games against Bradley for the first time in their series history.
- UIC's 85 points were the second-most it has scored in the 16-game series against Bradley, topped only by last year's 93-70 win in Peoria.
- Bradley was the 10th UIC opponent (of its 19 Division I games) that was ranked or receiving votes in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll at tipoff (the Braves were receiving votes).
- UIC has now led at halftime in nine of its 10 MVC games this season.
- Elijah Crawford's 26 points surpassed his previous career high of 16 points on Tuesday night against Evansville. Crawford also notched career highs of five three-pointers and nine made field goals.
- Josiah Hammons recorded his second-highest point total of the season behind only his career-high 31 points at Belmont on Dec. 13.
- Redshirt freshman forward Jayce Nathaniel had a career-high four assists on Saturday night at Bradley.
UP NEXT: INDIANA STATE
UIC will be back at home inside Credit Union 1 Arena on Tuesday when it plays host to Indiana State at 7 p.m. (CT) live on ESPN+. The Flames will be celebrating Pride Night, with special themed t-shirts and flags given away to early arriving fans.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
UIC basketball season and single-game tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster (Men's Basketball or Women's Basketball), UICFlames.com/Tickets or by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office at (312) 413-UIC1 (8421) or athleticsticketing@uic.edu. UIC students are admitted free for all Flames' home games.
In addition, the US Solar Courtside Club is open for each game at Credit Union 1 Arena, with Club passes available for purchase through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office or at the Courtside Club entrance on game nights. Located just steps away from the action on the event level at Credit Union 1 Arena, the US Solar Courtside Club provides a premium experience for all UIC basketball fans, including enhanced food and beverage options. The Club also offers luxury seating and flat-screen televisions, and fans will have earlier access to the arena through a dedicated separate gate entrance, allowing them to get a quicker start on supporting their Flames each and every night.
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
For more information on UIC men's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb and @uicflames).
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