Valparaiso cruises to 73-55 win over Illinois Chicago

CHICAGO -- Alec Peters scored 15 points and added seven rebounds and Valparaiso had little trouble with Illinois Chicago on Saturday in a 73-55 win.

Darien Walker finished with 12 points, and Jubril Adekoya had 11 points and six boards for the Crusaders (20-4, 10-1 Horizon League), who have won four straight and 10 of 11.

Illinois Chicago (3-19, 1-10) has lost 14 consecutive meetings with the Crusaders, and have not beaten them since Feb. 2009.

Dikembe Dixson led the Flames with 18 points and seven rebounds. Michael Kolawole added 16 points.

Keith Carter hit a 3-pointer on the opening possession and added another to bookend a 19-9 Valparaiso run. The Crusaders led 41-21 at the half and never trailed.

Dixson scored a layup to pull the Flames to 52-40 with 12:27 remaining, but six straight points pushed Valparaiso's lead back to 18.