The Illinois State Redbirds, riding a 9-6 conference record in the MVC, face off against the Illinois-Chicago Flames, who also hold a 9-6 conference record, in a game that could have real consequences for both teams' postseason hopes, with Illinois State looking to bolster its 2-0 Quad 2 record and UIC aiming to build on its 4-3 Quad 2 mark, having recently gone 3-2 over their last 5 games, including a 75-68 win over Valparaiso, where they shot 49.1% from the field.
Illinois State Redbirds' 74.5% Free Throw Shooting Percentage Ranks 15th in the Nation
The game is scheduled for February 15, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET, and will take place at the Credit Union 1 Arena, with streaming available on ESPN+, as the Flames look to capitalize on their home court advantage, where they have posted a 9-3 record this season, including a 78-69 win over Green Bay, in which they forced 17 turnovers.
The Illinois State Redbirds have compiled a 15-8 overall record, with a notable 6-5 mark in Quad 3 games, and are seeking to improve their tournament resume, which currently features a 0-3 record in Quad 1 games, and a 2-0 record in Quad 2 games, having recently defeated Loyola-Chicago 70-63, behind 22 points from their leading scorer, who is averaging 17.4 points per game, and has scored in double figures in 12 consecutive games, including a 25-point outing against Bradley.
Key Matchups
The Illinois-Chicago Flames, with a 14-12 overall record, have gone 9-6 in MVC play, and are looking to bolster their tournament resume, which currently features a 0-2 record in Quad 1 games, and a 4-3 record in Quad 2 games, having recently lost to Northern Iowa 72-65, despite shooting 45.5% from three-point range, and are led by their top scorer, who is averaging 18.1 points per game, and has scored 20 or more points in 5 of their last 7 games, including a 28-point outing against Evansville.
The Illinois State Redbirds, who have allowed just 65.4 points per game over their last 5 contests, want to contain the Illinois-Chicago Flames' high-powered offense, which has averaged 74.2 points per game over their last 5 games, and features a 45.1% field goal percentage, the 12th-highest mark in the MVC, as the Redbirds' defense, which has held opponents to 41.9% shooting from the field, will be put to the test, particularly in the paint, where UIC has outscored opponents by an average of 4.5 points per game.
CHD Scout Prediction
Illinois State
75
UIC
69
For the Illinois State Redbirds, their leading scorer, who has averaged 19.5 points per game over his last 5 contests, will be a key player to watch, as will their point guard, who has dished out 5.5 assists per game over that same span, and has a 2.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while for the Illinois-Chicago Flames, their top scorer, who has averaged 20.8 points per game over his last 5 games, matters, as will their power forward, who has grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game over that same span, and has shot 52.2% from the field.
The CHD Scout prediction has the Illinois State Redbirds winning by a margin of 5.8 points, with a 69-75 final score, and gives the Flames just a 30.7% chance of emerging victorious, based on their analysis of both teams' statistical profiles, which takes into account factors such as tempo, shooting percentages, and rebounding margins, as the Redbirds' 42.1% rebounding rate, the 10th-highest mark in the MVC, will be pitted against the Flames' 39.5% rebounding rate.
Tournament Stakes
This game has real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes, as a win for the Illinois State Redbirds would improve their Quad 2 record to 3-0, and give them a much-needed quality win, while a loss would drop them to 2-1 in Quad 2 games, and put their tournament hopes in jeopardy, meanwhile, a win for the Illinois-Chicago Flames would give them a crucial Quad 2 victory, and improve their NET ranking, which currently stands at 132, and would also boost their chances of earning an at-large bid, as they seek to become the first MVC team to earn an at-large bid since 2017.