UIC Downs Illinois State 83-56 in Blowout Victory

Ante Beljan scores 16 points off the bench to lead the Flames to a dominant win.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Flames defeated the Illinois State Redbirds 83-56 in a lopsided college basketball matchup on Sunday. Ante Beljan came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points for UIC, while Abdul Momoh and Rashund Washington Jr. each added 13 points. Illinois State was led by 12 points from Johnny Kinziger.

Why it matters

This victory improves UIC's record to 15-12 overall and 10-6 in Missouri Valley Conference play, keeping them in the hunt for a strong conference tournament seeding. For Illinois State, the loss drops them to 17-10 on the season and 9-7 in league play, potentially hurting their chances of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The details

UIC took control of the game in the final minutes of the first half, closing the period on a 9-0 run to take a 33-26 lead into halftime. The Flames then blew the game open in the second half, going on a 19-3 run to extend their advantage to 60-34. Beljan was efficient off the bench, making 8 of his 11 field goal attempts, while Washington scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half to help seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
  • UIC took the lead with 4:48 left in the first half and did not trail again.

The players

Ante Beljan

A key reserve player for the UIC Flames, Beljan scored a team-high 16 points off the bench on 8-of-11 shooting.

Abdul Momoh

A starting forward for UIC, Momoh contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 6-of-8 from the field.

Rashund Washington Jr.

A starting guard for the Flames, Washington scored 13 points and shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.

Johnny Kinziger

A guard for the Illinois State Redbirds, Kinziger led his team with 12 points and 2 steals.

Boden Skunberg

A player for the Illinois State Redbirds, Skunberg scored 9 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This dominant victory for UIC showcases the team's depth and balanced scoring attack, with multiple players stepping up to contribute. The Flames' strong second-half performance in particular demonstrates their ability to pull away from opponents and close out games convincingly.