CHICAGO (Interstat) — A pivotal Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Tuesday night when the Bradley Braves visit the Illinois-Chicago Flames at UIC Pavilion. The Braves (19-10) enter on a strong note, having won four of their last five, including a 74-60 victory over Illinois State on Saturday. The Flames (16-13), meanwhile, look to rebound after a narrow 71-67 home loss to Valparaiso that same day. Bradley will be fueled by revenge, as Illinois-Chicago handed the Braves an 85-70 defeat in Peoria just one month ago, on Jan. 24. That result adds high stakes to this rematch as both teams jockey for seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. A key battle will feature two of the league’s top performers. Bradley is led by dynamic guard Jaquan Johnson, who is averaging 20.4 points over his last five games. He exploded for 31 points and seven assists in a win over Belmont on Feb. 9 and dropped 23 points in Saturday’s win. Illinois-Chicago will counter with forward Rashund Washington, who is coming off a dominant 13-point, 12-rebound double-double against Valparaiso. His versatility and presence on the glass will be critical against a physical Bradley frontcourt. The Flames have been strong at home in conference play, winning three of their last four at UIC Pavilion, including an 83-56 rout of Illinois State on Feb. 15. Bradley has been inconsistent on the road, with its recent away games featuring both a 20-point loss at Northern Iowa and a 10-point win at Southern Illinois. With both teams having just one regular-season game remaining after this contest, a victory is crucial for momentum. Bradley seeks its 20th win, while Illinois-Chicago aims to solidify a winning record and enhance its conference standing. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Feb. 24.