UIC displayed torrid shooting, rugged rebounding, solid defense and crisp passing en route to a 83-63 thrashing of crosstown rival Loyola at the UIC Pavilion on Saturday. With the win, the Flames (9-8, 3-1) secure at least a tie for first-place in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference with Butler.

"Loyola is a much better team than they displayed tonight," UIC head coach Jimmy Collins said. "We had something to do with that. We shot the ball real well and played alert defense. We had the best of both worlds today."

UIC post players Joe Scott (19 points) and Maurice Brown (13 points) proved to be a potent force down low as the sophomore duo combined for 14-of-18 shooting from the field. The Flames also received solid efforts from freshman Aaron Carr (12 points), Jordan Kardos (12 points) and Joel Bullock (11 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists).

For the first time this season the Flames shot over 50 percent from the field (33-57 FG) and recorded a season-high 25 assists. Collins also lauded the defensive efforts of Bullock who held Ramblers standout David Bailey to 5-of-13 shooting for a team-high 16 points.

"Joel was the key today," Collins said. "He did a good job on David Bailey and that is not an easy job."

Loyola (6-12, 1-4) also received solid efforts from Silvije Turkovic and Corey Minnefield as they both contributed 11 points apiece.