Preview: Valparaiso Beacons at Illinois-Chicago Flames CHICAGO (Interstat) — A pivotal Missouri Valley Conference matchup with postseason implications is set for Saturday when the Illinois-Chicago Flames host the Valparaiso Beacons at UIC Pavilion. Both teams enter with momentum and nearly identical records. The Flames (16-12) are riding a three-game winning streak, most recently an 84-46 road rout of Evansville on Wednesday. The Beacons (15-13) have won two straight and four of their last six, including a 79-72 victory over Bradley on Wednesday. The game features a compelling head-to-head narrative. Valparaiso won the season’s first meeting, 66-59, at home on Jan. 4. Saturday provides the Flames an opportunity to level the series on their home court. A key matchup will be Valparaiso’s high-scoring JT Pettigrew against a stout Illinois-Chicago defense. Pettigrew is averaging 18.1 points over his last seven games, including a 22-point performance against Bradley. His versatility was on full display in a Feb. 15 win over Indiana State, where he posted 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Illinois-Chicago will counter with guard Andy Johnson, who is coming off a 17-point effort in 21 minutes against Evansville. The Flames have shown balance, with Elijah Crawford recording a double-double (10 points, 10 assists) in that same game. Valparaiso has shown resilience in close games, with three overtime victories in conference play this season. Illinois-Chicago has relied on defensive pressure, holding opponents under 70 points in five of their last six wins. The outcome will impact seeding for the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Valparaiso visits Evansville on Feb. 28, while Illinois-Chicago hosts Bradley on Tuesday before traveling to Indiana State on March 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST at UIC Pavilion.