CHICAGO (Interstat) — In a commanding display of interior dominance and defensive pressure, the Illinois-Chicago Flames avenged an earlier overtime loss by overwhelming the Illinois State Redbirds 83-56 in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at UIC Pavilion.

A crowd of 2,141 watched the Flames (15-12, 9-7 MVC) erupt for 50 second-half points, turning a competitive first half into a decisive rout. The victory, fueled by a staggering 60-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 20-6 edge in points off turnovers, snapped a two-game losing streak for Illinois-Chicago and evened the season series.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded early in the second half, where Illinois-Chicago effectively put the contest out of reach. Leading 33-26 at halftime, the Flames opened the final period with a devastating 17-4 run over the first 4:39. The surge was emblematic of their entire performance, featuring relentless attacks at the rim and capitalizing on Redbird mistakes.

Elijah Crawford, who finished with 12 points and eight assists, ignited the run with a steal and a transition assist to Andy Johnson for a jumper. After a Mekhi Lowery hook shot, Crawford found Rashund Washington Jr. for a jumper, and Johnson then fed Abdul Momoh for an easy layup. The run culminated with Washington Jr. draining a three-pointer off a Momoh assist, pushing the lead to 48-30 and forcing an Illinois State timeout. The Flames’ defense during this stretch was suffocating, generating multiple turnovers and converting them into easy baskets, a theme that persisted throughout the half.

Illinois State (17-10, 10-6), which entered the game as a narrow one-point favorite according to sportsbooks, never recovered. The Redbirds, who had won six of their last seven, shot poorly from the field and were consistently disrupted by the Flames’ length and activity. Johnny Kinziger led the visitors with 12 points, but the team’s offensive flow was repeatedly stymied.

Illinois-Chicago’s balanced and efficient offense was led by Ante Beljan, who scored a game-high 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting in just 15 minutes off the bench. Abdul Momoh added 13 points and six rebounds, while Rashund Washington Jr. also chipped in 13 points. The Flames’ ball movement was crisp, resulting in 24 assists on 33 made field goals.

Defensively, the Flames were anchored by versatile performances from Mekhi Lowery, who contributed eight points, six rebounds, four assists, a block and two steals, and Andy Johnson, who filled the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Their ability to switch and protect the rim was central to holding Illinois State to just 30 second-half points.

The first half was a sloppy affair for both teams, featuring 17 combined turnovers. Illinois-Chicago struggled to separate early, but a late 8-2 spurt, capped by an Elijah Crawford layup with 45 seconds left, gave them a seven-point cushion at the break, setting the stage for the decisive second-half onslaught.

The 27-point margin of victory was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 10 in Normal, which Illinois-Chicago won 63-59 in overtime. The Flames’ performance Sunday moved them into a more favorable position in the conference standings as the regular season enters its final weeks.

According to the Interstat ELO system, Illinois-Chicago had a 58% probability to win pregame. The combined final score of 139 points fell just under the sportsbook over/under line of 138.5.

Illinois State looks to rebound on Wednesday when it hosts Murray State. Illinois-Chicago travels to face Evansville, also on Wednesday.