CHICAGO — UIC put together a spirited rally down the stretch to get within a basket three times in the final minute, and even had a look at a game-tying three-pointer with 17 seconds left, but Valparaiso made just enough foul shots to slip past the Flames, 71-67 in Missouri Valley Conference action on Saturday afternoon before a Senior Day crowd of 2,247 fans at Credit Union 1 Arena. All seven conference losses for UIC (16-13, 11-7 MVC) have come by single digits, including both matchups this season with the Beacons (16-13, 10-8).
Sophomore guard Elijah Crawford scored a game-high 22 points for the Flames, his third 20-point outing this season, while freshman guard Rashund Washington Jr. had 13 points and a career high-tying 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the year, and graduate student forward Abdul Momoh added his first double-double in a UIC uniform (fifth of his career) with 10 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.
The full box score and play-by-play recap from Saturday's game against Valparaiso can be found here.
COACH'S COMMENTS
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- In addition to all seven UIC conference losses coming by single digits, the Flames have seen 11 of their 13 losses overall this season come by 10 points or fewer and/or in overtime.
- Abdul Momoh posted his first double-double of the season and fifth of his career, as well as his first since Feb. 6, 2025 (11 points/11 rebounds vs. FDU), when he was playing at Central Connecticut State.
- Rashund Washington Jr. tallied his third double-double of the season, all of which have come during MVC play (10 pts/10 rebs on Jan. 20 vs. Evansville, 22 pts/career-high 12 rebs on Feb. 3 at Murray State, 13 pts/career-high 12 rebs on Saturday vs. Valparaiso).
- Saturday marked the first time two Flames had double-doubles in the same game since UIC's last home game against Valparaiso on March 2, 2025, when Modestas Kancleris (11 pts/13 rebs) and Saša Ciani (11 pts/10 rebs) both did so in a narrow win over the Beacons.
- Elijah Crawford knocked down a career-high 9-of-10 free throws as part of his game-high 22 points.
- UIC still leads the all-time series with Valparaiso, 35-31, including a 22-11 edge in Chicago. The Beacons take a 5-4 lead in the series since the Flames joined the MVC in 2022-23 and have won the last three games in the series, their longest win streak against UIC since a 17-game string from 2010-17 when both were in the Horizon League.
- UIC fielded a new starting lineup on Saturday, with its four seniors/graduate students — Josiah Hammons, Abdul Momoh, Sam Silverstein and Tai Walters-Whitaker — getting the nod on Senior Day alongside junior guard/forward Mekhi Lowery. It was the first career start for Walters-Whitaker.
UP NEXT: BRADLEY
UIC will play its regular-season home finale on Tuesday when it welcomes MVC foe Bradley to Credit Union 1 Arena for a 7 p.m. (CT) tipoff on ESPN+ and the Flames Network. Tuesday's game will be CPS (Chicago Public Schools) Night, while early-arriving fans can pick up a replica UIC men's basketball jersey.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
UIC basketball 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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