In 1998, the UIC Flames men’s basketball team won the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Flames, led by head coach Jimmy Collins, entered the tournament as a #12 seed in the West Region.

In the first round of the tournament, the Flames faced off against the #5 seeded University of Florida Gators. The Flames pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the Gators 76-72 in overtime. UIC guard Mark Miller scored a team-high 23 points in the victory, including a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.

In the second round, the Flames faced the #4 seeded University of Kansas Jayhawks. Despite a valiant effort, UIC ultimately fell to Kansas 78-53. The Flames finished the season with a 22-10 record, setting a school record for wins in a season.

The 1998 NCAA tournament appearance was the second in UIC’s history, and remains one of the most memorable moments in the program’s history. The team’s success helped to raise the profile of UIC athletics and brought national attention to the Flames basketball program.