The UIC Flames avenged their previous loss against Bradley on Wednesday night, defeating the Braves 93-70. After a close game loss to Southern Illinois broke the Flames’ winning streak, the Flames upset the Braves with a nearly perfect game, giving up no turnovers and shooting 14 of 27 from 3-point range.
“Incredible win from our team, more in the fashion it happened,” UIC coach Rob Ehsan said. “To start the game down 13 and then to win by 20-plus is an amazing accomplishment. Bradley is a great program.”
Averaging more than 53% as a team, the Flames’ 93-point scoring effort was driven by the trio of Javon Jackson, Jordan Mason and Ahmad Henderson III. Jackson was recently named Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week after the UIC’s victory over Murray State in double overtime. In the two teams’ last matchup, Jackson only scored once. He posted 25 points against the Braves on Wednesday night, his second-highest-scoring game of the season.
Mason followed closely behind with 22 points and seven rebounds. The junior guard has been on an upward trajectory, breaking his game-high scoring record in each of the Flames’ last three games.
Henderson contributed 17 points, shooting an even 50% from behind the 3-point line and sinking 4 of 4 free throws with ease. Bradley coach Brian Wardle mentioned the trio’s presence when asked about his team’s loss.
“Their guards were tremendous. They came out and played tremendous,” Wardle said. “Their guards dominated the game. We didn’t make it tough on them to start the second half at all.”
Due to illness, the Flames (14-7, 7-4 Missouri Valley) were missing season-long key player and former MVC Newcomer of the Week Sasa Ciani, and the Flames shone under pressure. In just his sixth appearance on the court this season, freshman Khaled Khaled boosted the Flames defensively.
Wardle hopes the upset can teach his players a lesson and emphasizes that the Braves (18-4, 9-2 Missouri Valley) will focus on discipline for the games ahead. After losing an early lead, Bradley was looking for relief off the bench– something that never came.
“We were searching for a lineup to get stops,” Wardle said. “I’m disappointed in my key players not being ready to play. I don’t know why they were relaxed, or why we didn’t want to keep battling.”
UIC returns home to the Credit Union 1 Arena to play Indiana State on Feb. 1.
