Flames take on Bradley in BracketBusters

The Flames competed against Joey Miller in the BracketBusters game at Eastern Illinois last season before he transferred to UIC. Photo: Steve Woltmann

The men’s basketball team drew in-state foe Bradley for the 2013 Ramada BracketBusters contest. The Flames and Braves will meet for the fifth time in school history at 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Pavilion.

Bradley has a 3-1 all-time series lead versus UIC. The squads will meet for the first time since the 2008-09 season opener.

The Flames (14-9, 5-5 Horizon) are 8-1 all-time in BracketBusters games, including a 67-63 win at Eastern Illinois last season.

BracketBusters pits similarly ranked mid-major teams against each other late in the season for possible postseason résumé building.

Bradley is 13-10 this season, with a 5-6 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play. Junior guard Walt Lemon Jr., who is scoring 14.8 points per game, leads the Braves in scoring.

The Flames dropped a 77-66 decision Saturday against Cleveland State at the Pavilion. Cleveland State built a 22-point second-half lead, and held off a run by the Flames down the stretch to pick up its first Horizon League road win of the season.

Senior point guard Gary Talton scored a team-high 16 points, pacing a group of four Flames in double figures.

“The bottom line was that we didn’t defend,” head coach Howard Moore said.

The Flames compete at Youngstown State at 1 p.m. Sunday.