What's Happening?
Elijah Crawford scored 18 points to lead the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Flames to an 80-70 victory over the Drake Bulldogs in a Missouri Valley Conference game. Crawford also contributed five rebounds and five assists. Mekhi Lowery and Josiah Hammons added 12 points each for UIC. The game was closely contested, with eight lead changes and seven ties in the second half. UIC started strong with a 14-2 run and maintained a narrow lead at halftime. Eli Shetlar and Jalen Quinn were the top performers for Drake, scoring 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Why It's Important?
This victory is significant for UIC as it strengthens their position in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, improving their record to 14-12 overall and 9-6 in the conference. The performance
of Elijah Crawford highlights his importance to the team, showcasing his ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game. For Drake, the loss adds to their challenges this season, as they fall to a 12-15 overall record and 6-10 in the conference. The game underscores the competitive nature of the conference and the potential for UIC to make a strong finish in the season.
