GAME NOTES: A pair of Horizon League teams headed in opposite directions collide at the UIC Pavilion tonight, as the Valparaiso Crusaders tussle with the Illinois-Chicago Flames. The Crusaders enter the contest in the midst of a slump, as they have fallen in three straight and four of their last five outings. The team was last in action on Thursday, when it suffered a 76-71 setback in overtime at UW-Green Bay. It was yet another close loss for Valpo, which has suffered its last four defeats by six points or fewer. With the recent string of narrow setbacks, the Crusaders now sit at just 5-6 in conference play and 14-9 overall. As for UIC, it has started to heat up, notching win in three consecutive outings. On Saturday, the Flames took to the road and slipped by Loyola-Chicago, 60-55. Now at 13-10 overall and 7-5 in conference play, UIC returns back home, where it has logged a solid 10-1 mark thus far. The Flames and Crusaders met for the first time ever last month, with Valpo coming away with a 60-56 triumph on its home floor.

The Crusaders have done a solid job at the offensive end of the court this season, as they are turning in 71.8 ppg behind 46.0 percent shooting from the field and 40.4 percent from three-point range. Jarryd Loyd leads the club in both scoring (11.7 ppg) and assists (4.0 apg) and that is despite not starting a single game. Shawn Huff nips at his heels with 11.5 ppg and he is also grabbing 4.9 rpg and shooting 46.0 percent from long distance. Samuel Haanpaa chips in with 10.5 ppg, and Brandon McPherson rounds out the double-figure scorers with 10.3 ppg. In the team's last game, McPherson poured in 20 points and snared five caroms, but it wasn't enough for Valpo in an overtime loss at UW-Green Bay. Huff contributed 14 points and five boards in the setback, and Loyd had 10 points and four assists. Valpo drained 12-of-26 three-pointers to keep things close, but hurt itself by going just 9-of-18 at the foul line and committing 19 turnovers.

The Flames are knocking down 45.3 percent of their attempts from the floor and an impressive 42.1 percent from beyond the arc and that has led them to a scoring average of 70.7 ppg. Josh Mayo is shooting a ridiculous 54.5 percent from long distance and he is the only player on the roster averaging in double figures at 18.5 ppg. He is also dishing out 3.7 apg and his 28 steals are tops on the team. In the club's prior outing, Mayo poured in 21 points and doled out three helpers to lift UIC to a five-point victory over Loyola-Chicago. The Flames converted on 13-of-15 free-throw attempts in the game and they held Loyola-Chicago to a dismal 34.5 percent shooting performance from the field.

UIC has been extremely difficult to beat at home and it should be able to continue that trend with another big game from Mayo tonight.