CHICAGO -- UIC will look to remain unbeaten at home, and grab its fifth win of the season on Sunday, Dec. 4 when it welcomes the Eastern Illinois Panthers to the Windy City for a non-conference clash.

The Flames (4-3) have been victorious in each of their three home games thus far with wins against UTSA (Nov. 16), Trinity Christian (Nov. 19) and Chicago State (Nov. 30), while averaging 87.3 points per game in the process. This marks only the fourth time since the 2006-07 season that the program has opened a season with at least three wins. The most recent group to do so was the 2012-13 bunch that opened with six consecutive wins in front of the UIC faithful.

Eastern Illinois (4-3) is the fourth in-state program that the Flames will face already this season. After downing Trinity Christian on Nov. 19, 102-66, UIC has also met Northern Illinois and Chicago State in back-to-back fashion. The Flames will also square off against in-state and crosstown rivals DePaul, Loyola and Roosevelt later this month. The Panthers have three in-state games under their belt, as well, defeating both Saint Francis and Western Illinois before falling in overtime to Bradley last time out.

A pair of Flames rank prominently among the national leaders in some major statistical categories in the early going this season. Sophomore sensation Dikembe Dixson ranks fourth in the NCAA with 24.4 points per game and sixth with 56 free throws made through seven games. The Matewan, W. Va., native has scored at least 31 points on three occasions this season and he made a career-high 14 free throws against NIU on Nov. 26. Dixson also ranks third in the Horizon League, and seventh in the nation, with 69 free throw attempts thus far.

While Dixson has been providing much of the scoring punch for UIC, junior Tai Odiase has been a rock-solid anchor on the back end of the defense. After leading the nation in blocks per game during the regular season as a sophomore with 3.23, Odiase has increased his average to 3.43 rejections per contest, ranking seventh in the NCAA. He's blocked 24 shots, which is more than five Horizon League teams during the 2016-17 campaign. Last time out against Chicago State, the Glenwood, Ill., native sent back five shots against Chicago State as he passed Sherrell Ford and moved into second place on UIC's all-time list with 169 blocks.

More notes, statistics and information about Wednesday's game can be found in the UIC Game Notes PDF linked above. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling 312-413-UIC1 or visiting the UIC Ticket Office online. UIC students are encouraged to take a Sunday brunch study break from exam prep. The first 500 UIC students in attendance will get donuts and hot beverages while enjoying the game. Admission is free for students with a valid i-Card.