CHICAGO — UIC freshman guard Andy Johnson scored nine of his team-high 14 points in the second half, adding five rebounds and four assists for good measure as the Flames turned up the heat defensively for a 70-57 Missouri Valley Conference victory over Southern Illinois on Wednesday night at Credit Union 1 Arena. UIC (6-10, 1-4 MVC) picks up its first conference win of the season, leading almost the entire way and by as many as 18 points to grab its first regular-season victory over SIU since 2009.
Junior guard Ahmad Henderson II scored 13 points and sophomore guard Elijah Crawford chipped in 11 points and five assists, including a floater in the lane and two foul shots in the final 90 seconds that punctuated an 8-0 game-ending run for the Flames after the Salukis (8-9, 2-4 MVC) got as close to five points.
The full box score and play-by-play recap from Wednesday's win over SIU can be found here.
COACH'S COMMENTS
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UIC moves to 6-12 all-time against SIU, including a 4-4 record in Chicago. The Flames earn their first win over the Salukis since March 7, 2024 (an 84-82 double-overtime win in the first round of the MVC Tournament in St. Louis), and their first regular-season win over SIU since Feb. 21, 2009 (74-67 at Credit Union 1 Arena).
- The 13-point margin was UIC's second-largest winning spread over Southern Illinois, topped only by a 76-61 win at home during the 1981-82 season (the Flames' first at the NCAA Division I level).
- UIC held Southern Illinois to just 57 points, the fewest allowed by the Flames against a Division I opponent this season (St. Francis-Ill. scored 55 points on Nov. 11; the previous D-I opponent low was 60 points by UNI on Dec. 17).
- The 57Â points were also the fewest UIC had ever given up to Southern Illinois in 18 series meetings (previous low came in the aforementioned 1981-82 home win, when UIC prevailed 76-61).
- The Flames held SIU to just 21 first-half points, the fewest points in a single half by a UIC opponent this season (UNI had 23 first-half points on Dec. 17). Included in that first-half lockdown was a 7:06 stretch from 9:55 to 2:49 in which the Salukis scored just one point (and no points for the final 6:27 of that run).
- UIC has now led at halftime in all five of its MVC games this season.
- Graduate student forward Abdul Momoh recorded two blocks, the eighth time this year he has posted multiple rejections in a game.
- Graduate student guard Sam Silverstein chose the perfect time to score his 500th career point, that coming with 2:20 remaining on a driving baseline layup while being fouled after SIU had closed within 62-57. Silverstein's bucket ignited the Flames' game-ending 8-0 run and gives him 502 career points between his time at Harvard, Cal Baptist and UIC.  Â
- UIC head coach Rob Ehsan picked up his 99th career coaching win on Wednesday. He is now 99-81 in six seasons on the sidelines, including a 23-24 record in his second year with the Flames.
UP NEXT: ILLINOIS STATE
UIC tips off a two-game MVC road swing against top-10 mid-major opponents on Saturday with a 4 p.m. (CT) matinee at No. 7 Illinois State. The game will be televised live from CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill., on ESPN+. The Flames then visit No. 5 UNI next Tuesday (6 p.m. CT on the MVC TV Network/ESPN+) before returning home on Saturday, Jan. 17, to welcome Drake for a 2 p.m. (CT) contest, which will also be '80s Day at Credit Union 1 Arena.
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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