PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — Two Missouri Valley Conference teams trending in opposite directions will meet Saturday when the surging Illinois-Chicago Flames visit the Bradley Braves at Carver Arena.

The Flames (10-10, 5-2 MVC) enter on a five-game winning streak, their longest in conference play in several seasons. Their most recent victory was a dominant 76-49 rout of Evansville on Tuesday. UIC’s resurgence has been fueled by improved defense and the steady play of guard Elijah Crawford. Over the last seven games, Crawford is averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 assists, including a 16-point, 7-assist performance against Evansville.

Bradley (14-7, 5-3), however, presents a significant step up in competition. The Braves are 9-2 at home this season and are coming off a 75-68 win over Indiana State on Wednesday. They are led by dynamic guard Jaquan Johnson, who is capable of explosive scoring outbursts. Johnson poured in a career-high 35 points in an overtime win at Evansville on Jan. 13 and is averaging 18.4 points over his last five contests.

The Braves have shown some vulnerability, however, suffering an 88-62 road loss at Illinois State last Saturday. Protecting home court will be a priority as they look to keep pace in the upper half of the Valley standings.

For UIC, this contest begins a tough stretch. After facing Bradley, they host first-place Indiana State next Tuesday. The Flames’ winning streak has featured several tight victories, including an overtime win at Illinois State, proving they can handle pressure situations.

Bradley holds the more impressive overall résumé, but UIC’s recent form suggests this will be a competitive conference clash. The matchup between Crawford’s facilitating and Johnson’s scoring could be the deciding factor.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST Saturday. The teams will meet again in Chicago on Feb. 24.