PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — In a commanding wire-to-wire performance that defied pregame projections, the Illinois-Chicago Flames delivered a decisive 85-70 road victory over the Bradley Braves in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at Carver Arena.

The Flames, improving to 11-10 overall, seized control from the opening tip and never trailed, building a double-digit lead in the first half and weathering a few Bradley pushes after halftime. The Braves, who entered as heavy favorites with an 84% win probability according to the Interstat ELO system, fell to 14-8.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the opening 20 minutes, where Illinois-Chicago’s offensive efficiency and defensive intensity set an insurmountable tone. The Flames raced to an early advantage behind the hot shooting of guard Elijah Crawford. The Augusta, Georgia, native scored nine of his game-high 26 points in the first seven minutes, including a pair of three-pointers, to help stake UIC to a lead it would not relinquish.

Bradley, struggling to find an offensive rhythm against UIC’s active defense, shot just 6 of 22 from three-point range for the game and committed nine turnovers. The Braves’ 28-point first-half output, which left them trailing by 11 at the break, proved too deep a hole to escape despite a more productive second half where they scored 42.

Illinois-Chicago’s offensive execution was precise throughout. The Flames shot 50% from the field, including an efficient 12 of 24 from beyond the arc. They also won the possession battle, scoring 85 points on 66 trips for an offensive rating of 129.6, significantly outpacing Bradley’s 108.6 rating on 64 possessions. The Flames also dominated the glass with 11 offensive rebounds leading to 15 second-chance points.

While Crawford led all scorers, he received ample support. Josiah Hammons, a guard from Chicago, provided a major spark off the bench with 18 points, connecting on four three-pointers. Forward Andy Johnson added 13 points, and Sam Silverstein facilitated the offense with a team-high four assists.

Bradley was led by Serbian center Ahmet Jonovic, who posted 11 points and two assists. Forward AJ Smith and guard Timoty van der Knaap added 10 and 12 points, respectively, but the Braves’ typically potent attack was held in check. The Flames’ defense, which recorded four steals and two blocks, consistently disrupted passing lanes and contested shots.

A key sequence late in the first half typified the night. After Bradley cut the deficit to nine points, the Flames responded with a 7-0 run, capped by a Crawford three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer, to extend their lead to 39-28 and carry decisive momentum into the locker room.

Any hope of a Bradley comeback was consistently stifled in the second half. Each time the Braves threatened to cut the lead to single digits, the Flames answered with a timely three-pointer, often from Hammons or Crawford. UIC’s lead ballooned to as many as 20 points in the final minutes before settling at the 15-point final margin.

The announced attendance was 6,209.

The victory marks Illinois-Chicago’s third consecutive conference win and fourth in its last five games. The Flames will look to continue their surge when they host Indiana State on Tuesday. Bradley, which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, will hit the road to face Drake next Saturday.