A brief preview of the Illinois State men's basketball team versus Illinois-Chicago at 7 p.m. Monday in the UIC Pavilion, Chicago.

Broadcast: WJBC-AM (1230), WJEZ-FM (98.9)

Records: ISU 2-0; Illinois-Chicago 1-1

Series history/last meeting: ISU leads, 12-7 (ISU won 67-60 on Dec. 20, 2008)

About the Flames: Illinois-Chicago was picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Horizon League in a preseason poll of coaches, sports information directors and media. The Flames are coming off a 67-48 loss Wednesday at Central Michigan in which they shot 26.9 percent from the field. UIC also lost an exhibition game to Division II Lewis (65-55). Robo Kreps, a Maroa-Forsyth High School graduate, is the lone returning starter from last season's 16-15 team and averaged 12.3 points. Spencer Stewart, a senior guard who led the Flames in assists last season, is suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

Next up: Friday vs. Norfolk State, 6:05 p.m.

Prediction: Illinois State 69, Illinois-Chicago 64

Probable starters

(Scoring, rebounding

averages)

ILLINOIS STATE

F - Dinma Odiakosa, 6-8, Sr. (11.0, 7.0); Tony Lewis, 6-7, Jr. (9.0, 6.5); G - Osiris Eldridge, 6-3, Sr. (21.5, 2.5); Lloyd Phillips, 5-10, Sr. (11.5, 2.5); Austin Hill, 6-1, Jr. (5.5, 1.5).

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO

F - Jeremy Buttell, 6-7, Sr. (11.0, 7.0); Brad Birton, 6-7, Jr. (5.0, 4.0); C - K.C. Robbins, 6-11, Jr. (6.0, 8.5); G - Robo Kreps, 6-0, Jr. (14.0, 6.0); Zavion Neely, 6-1, So. (11.5, 1.0).