UIC outlasted Bradley 93-86 in a Missouri Valley Conference double-overtime thriller Monday night at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago. With the win, UIC improved to 17-13 overall and 12-7 in MVC play, matching Bradley's 12-7 league mark while moving the Braves to 19-11 overall in a game that featured six ties and two lead changes.

UIC came out firing, shooting 55.6 percent in the first half and knocking down six three-pointers to take a 39-28 lead into the break. Andy Johnson set the tone early, finishing with 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Bradley struggled to find rhythm offensively in the opening 20 minutes, shooting just 37 percent from the field despite six first-half threes. The Braves flipped the script in the second half.

Behind Jaquan Johnson's 25-point effort and AJ Smith's 17 points and 10 rebounds, Bradley shot 55.6 percent after halftime to erase the deficit. Alex Huibregtse added 14 points, including four three-pointers, as the Braves outscored UIC 44-33 in the second half to force overtime tied at 72. 

The first overtime saw no winner, with both teams scoring seven points apiece. UIC shot 2-of-3 in the extra period, while Bradley managed 3-of-9 shooting from the floor but generated extra chances on the back of multiple offensive rebounds. In the final moments Bradley was able to earn a defensive stop and get our on the break with less than six seconds left. Jaquan Johnson immediately attacked the paint but his last second shot wouldn't fall following a physical challenge as time expired.

In the second overtime period, the Flames shot 60 percent in the final five minutes and went 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. Ahmad Henderson II was pivotal off the bench, finishing with 14 points and a perfect 9-of-9 night at the stripe. UIC outscored Bradley 14-7 in the second overtime as the Braves went just 1-of-7 from the field and missed all three of their three-point attempts.

UIC shot an efficient 51.7 percent from the field and 47.8 percent from three, compared to Bradley's 41.4 percent overall shooting. The Flames also capitalized in transition, holding a 15-3 advantage in fast-break points and a 15-9 edge in points off turnovers.

Elijah Crawford added 19 points and eight assists for UIC, while Mekhi Lowery controlled the glass with 11 rebounds.

Bradley won the rebounding battle 40-38 and scored 16 second-chance points, UIC's strong bench production (27 points) helped the Flames through two overtimes and tightened the MVC race as March approaches. Bradley for the time being will sit in 4th ahead of Wednesday's remaining Missouri Valley Conference games.

The Braves will be back in action on Sunday March 1st when they host the Murray State Racers inside Carver Arena on ESPN2 with Clay Matvick and kevin Lehman on the call. Fans can also tune into the Bradley Basketball radio broadcast with Dave Snell and Chad Kleine.