Mercifly, UIC’s worst ever Division 1 Hoops season is over. Valpo wins 73-63

VALPARAISO—UIC’s worst Division 1 season is now history. Alec Peters scored 29 points and No. 4 seed Valparaiso topped the ninth-seeded Flames 73-63 Tuesday in the first round of the Horizon League tournament.Peters scored eight points during an 18-5 run as Valparaiso (18-14) opened a 31-18 lead, en route to a 39-28 halftime advantage.UIC (6-25) cut the deficit to 59-56 with 6:29 remaining. But the Crusaders scored the next four points as Peters made a free throw before LaVonte Dority added three free throws less than a minute later for a 63-56 lead.Valparaiso made 8 of 10 free throws in the final minute to preserve the win. Dority joined Peters in double figures with 12 points.Marc Brown led UIC with 16 points. Jordan Harks added 14 points and nine rebounds while Kelsey Barlow had 11 points and nine rebounds.Valpo will play fifth-seeded Milwaukee in a quarterfinal matchup Friday.