The UIC Flames rang in 2025 with a New Year’s Day victory over the Drake Bulldogs, and they’re looking to do it again on Wednesday. The year’s first matchup marked UIC’s first win over Drake in over 20 years and the first game ending in regulation since 2022.
Wednesday’s game is an important contest for both teams. Drake (23-3, 13-3 MVC) is first in the Missouri Valley Conference standings but holds a slim one-game lead over Bradley. UIC (15-11, 8-8 MVC) has a one-game lead for fifth place over five teams with conference records of 7-9.
The Flames average 78.4 points per game and have allowed an average of 73.9. While the margin is slim, the Bulldogs’ scoring average sits just below what the Flames are likely to allow (71.2 points per game). Under the leadership of first year head coach Rob Ehsan, the Flames are offensive contenders in The Valley for the first time in years.
“This season’s about to turn the program around,” UIC guard Ethan Pickett told MidMajorBasketball.com earlier this season, and according to the numbers – they already have.
Two of the more talented scorers in the Missouri Valley will face off on Wednesday night. Drake’s Bennett Stirtz and UIC’s Javon Jackson have both already posted 30-point games this season. With Jordan Mason providing a recent spark off the bench, the Flames are expected to hold their own offensively, making Wednesday’s matchup likely to be decided on the defensive end.
UIC’s trio of power forwards Filip Skobalj, Sasa Ciani and Modestas Kancleris give the Flames the size advantage over the Bulldogs. With them on the court, the Bulldogs’ scoring efforts will not come easy. However, all three players fouled out against the Illinois State Redbirds two weeks ago, marking Kancleris’ eight foul-out this season.
Earlier this season, the Flames had a historic program win over the Bradley Braves, who broke Drake’s 11-game winning streak last weekend. The Flames are looking to extend Drake’s losing streak, a hard shift from their early victory in which the Bulldogs entered the Credit Union 1 Arena on a 12-game winning streak.
The Flames and Bulldogs square off in a highly anticipated rematch Wednesday night, tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Des Moines, Iowa.
