Mason scores 17 as UIC takes down undefeated conference foe Drake 74-70

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The UIC Flames logo is displayed at mid-court at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images / Getty Images)

CHICAGO - Jordan Mason scored 17 points off of the bench to lead UIC over Drake 74-70 on Wednesday.

Mason added five assists for the Flames (10-4, 2-1 Missouri Valley Conference). Javon Jackson scored 16 points while shooting 3 of 6 from the field and 10 for 12 from the line. Tyem Freeman had 15 points and went 5 of 8 from the field (5 for 7 from 3-point range).

The Flames reached the 10-win mark on the first day of 2025. Last season, UIC reached 10 wins on February 11, 2024. UIC is also two conference wins from matching its conference win total from last season.

"Huge win for our program, huge win for our guys," UIC head coach Rob Ehsan said according to UIC men's basketball's X account. "This is a win that,hopefully years from now, we'll look back as a program win."

This is Rob Ehsan's first signature win as UIC's head coach. Drake came into Wednesday undefeated at 12-0 with wins over Miami, Vanderbilt, Florida Atlantic and Kansas State.

Bennett Stirtz finished with 30 points and 12 assists for the Bulldogs (12-1, 2-1). Cam Manyawu added 13 points, 12 rebounds and two steals for Drake. Tavion Banks and Daniel Abreu both finished with nine points. The loss snapped the Bulldogs' 12-game winning streak.

"We got a few wins in the early season, but this is a special one," Ehsan said.