Game 5 - #5 UIC 92, #4 Murray State 79
Friday, March 6, 2026
Session Two Attendance:8,068
MVC Tournament Notes — With just its second MVC Tournament win, UIC advances to the semifinal round for the first time ever, playing No. 9 seed Drake tomorrow. It will mark the first time a semifinal game has featured the Nos. 9 and 5 seeds. The No. 5 seed is 33-47 in the MVC Tournament and this marks the first time the No. 5 seed has advanced to the semifinal round since then No. 5 Indiana State in 2023.
UIC NOTES — The Flames moved to 18-14 - matching their most wins since the 2019-2020 season while advancing to the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament for the first time…UIC improved its MVC Tournament record to 2-3…UIC had five players reach double figures in points, dominating inside for 50 points in the paint…The Flames reached the 90-point plateau for the fifth time this season.
Flames Player Plaudits — Sophomore guard Elijah Crawford reached double figures for the 16th time this season in his 20 games played, finishing with 19 points and a game-high six assists. Junior guard Mekhi Lowery, scoreless in his previous outing against Murray State, added 15 points, including 13 in the first half…It’s his 13th time this season hitting double-figures. Freshman guard Andy Johnson had 15 first-half points, finishing the game with 17 making three of seven shots from beyond the arc, marking the sixth time this season he’s had three or more treys. Freshman guard Rashund Washington Jr. scored 17 - all but two in the second half - to go with a game-high nine rebounds. Junior guard Ahmad Henderson II scored 11 points, all in the second half.
MURRAY STATE NOTES — The Racers, who suffered their second straight loss, slipped to 20-11. Murray State’s MVC Tournament record is 2-4 including an 0-3 mark in the quarterfinal round.
Racers Player Plaudits — Guard Javon Jackson enjoyed his 13th 20-plus scoring games (26th in career) with a career-tying 30 points, including 24 in the second half. His other 30 point game came as a UIC player last year against Murray State. Jackson has scored 527 points this season. Senior transfer Mason Miller tallied 12 points, drilling three 3-point baskets. Freshman forward Roman Domon added 11 points despite shooting 1 of 11 from the floor. He made eight of 14 free throws. Domon, who had scored 20 points in his last two games against Evansville and Bradley, missed his first six shots before finally making his first and only basket with 1:46 left in the first half. Senior center Fred King scored 10 points while collecting a team-high six rebounds along with three blocked shots.
First Half recap – The Flames went on a 13-1 run turning a 6-2 deficit into a 15-7 lead that forced Murray State to take a time out. During a 6:31 stretch (17:30 to 10:59) UIC made nine of 10 shots, turning a 6-2 deficit into a 23-13 lead. UIC closed out the first half with a 9-1 run, including seven points from Andy Johnson to own a 50-32 halftime cushion. Murray State shot just 28.1 percent (9-32) in the first half.
Second Half recap — Baskets by Rashund Washington Jr. and Mekhi Lowery in the opening 70 seconds extended the Flames lead to 54-34 and UIC was able to maintain its double-digit lead throughout the remainder of the game despite the hot shooting by Murray State guard Javon Jackson who scored 24 points in the second half. The Flames shot 53.3 percent in the second half, making 16 of 30 shots. Washington (15) and Henderson II (11) combined for 26 of the Flames 42 points in the second half.