CHICAGO — Senior guard Mekhi Lowery made his first eight shots from the field and finished with a career-high 20 points, while redshirt sophomore forward Jayce Nathaniel posted his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, pacing UIC to a wire-to-wire 96-47 win over St. Francis (Ill.) in its season opener on Monday afternoon at Credit Union 1 Arena. It was the Flames' second-largest margin of victory ever in a season opener, as well as their largest in nearly 50 years (119-58 vs. Niles College in 1977-78) and largest in the program's Division I era.
Lowery and Nathaniel led five UIC players in double figures, with sophomore guard Rashund Washington Jr. scoring 15 points, senior guard Ahmad Henderson II tallying 13 points and redshirt junior guard Gabe Cupps chipping in a career-high 12 points, along with a career-best five assists.
As a team, UIC (1-0) shot 58.1 percent from the field and nearly doubled up the Fighting Saints (0-2) in the rebounding column, 40-21. The Flames also swiped 15 steals, including a career high-tying four thefts from Lowery.
The full box score and play-by-play recap from Monday's win over St. Francis can be found here.
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 49-point margin of victory was UIC's second-largest winning spread ever in a season opener, as well as its largest in nearly 50 years (119-58 vs. Niles College in 1977-78) and largest in the program's Division I era.
- Lowery's previous career scoring high was 17 points against Illinois Tech on Dec. 29, 2025, also at Credit Union 1 Arena.
- Lowery had four steals on two other occasions, both against Evansville last year.
- Nathaniel's other career double-double came on Dec. 3, 2025, with 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Credit Union 1 Arena.
- Cupps' previous career scoring high was 11 points against Auburn on Dec. 9, 2023, while he was playing for Indiana.
- Cupps' previous career assist high was four at Northwestern on Dec. 6, 2025, while playing for Ohio State.
- Washington was a career-high 9-of-12 from the free throw line (his previous high for free throws made was five in last year's opener vs. Detroit Mercy, while his attempts high had been seven at Murray State on Feb. 3, 2026).
- Sophomore forward Nano Barrantes made his college debut on Monday and scored eight points on 4-of-4 shooting, adding three rebounds in seven minutes of action.
- UIC evens its all-time record in season openers at 40-40, including a 25-21 (.543) mark since moving to the Division I level in 1981-82.
- The Flames are 59-21 (.738) all-time in home openers, including a 38-8 (.826) record in their Division I era — UIC has also now won its last 11 home openers.
- Head coach Rob Ehsan has led the Flames to season-opening wins in each of his three seasons, making him just the second UIC head coach to pull off that feat and first since Tom Russo won his first five season openers from 1962-63 through 1966-67 (during the program's NAIA era).
- Monday marked Ehsan's 200th career game as a head coach. The third-year Flames' mentor is 113-87 (.565) in his seventh season as a head coach, including a 37-30 (.552) record at UIC.
- The Flames move to 8-6 all-time against St. Francis, including a 7-3 record in Chicago. UIC has won the past six games in the series, including each of the past three years.
- UIC's 15 steals were its highest total since Jan. 20, 2026, when the Flames also had 15 thefts in a win over Evansville at Credit Union 1 Arena.
UP NEXT: ROBERT MORRIS
UIC continues its season-opening three-game homestand Friday when it welcomes former Horizon League foe Robert Morris to Credit Union 1 Arena for a 7 p.m. (CT) matchup. Tickets are still available for Friday's game, which will be one of the signature events of Homecoming Weekend at UIC (along with Sunday's women's basketball game at 1 p.m. (CT) against crosstown rival Northwestern). Friday's contest against Robert Morris can also be seen live on ESPN+.
Prior to Friday's game, fans are encouraged to join the traditional Homecoming Tailgate in Lot 1 (across from Credit Union 1 Arena), featuring food, drinks, games and fireworks. In addition, the UIC baseball team (which won the MVC regular-season and tournament titles to advance to the NCAA Tournament) will receive their championship rings in a special ceremony during the Homecoming Tailgate.
FOLLOW THE FLAMES
Fans can purchase UIC basketball tickets (single-game or season packages) by going online through Ticketmaster or by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office at (312) 413-UIC1 (8421) or athleticsticketing@uic.edu. Once again this season, all UIC students are admitted FREE to all home games with their student ID.
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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