CHICAGO -- Following a break from competition for end-of-semester exams, UIC will resume the 2016-17 slate on Saturday, Dec. 10, when it travels to Phoenix, Ariz., for a game against the Grand Canyon Lopes. The contest at GCU Arena is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. CT/7 p.m. MT.
The Flames (4-4) are seeking their second win away from the UIC Pavilion this season and the second against an opponent from the Western Athletic Conference. UIC defeated Cal Poly, 84-71, in a neutral-site game in DeKalb, Ill. on Nov. 25. On Nov. 30, the Flames toppled WAC member Chicago State, 74-58, at the UIC Pavilion. Grand Canyon (4-4) ended a two-game skid on Wednesday, Dec. 7,when it defeated San Diego State at home, 76-72. The Lopes are in the midst of a five-game home stand, and a span when they will play nine of 10 games at GCU Arena.
It is no secret that UIC head coach
Steve McClain has one of the youngest teams in the country this season. In fact, according to
KenPom.com, the Flames are the youngest of 351 Division I teams through December 7. With an average of 0.71 years of high-level collegiate playing experience, UIC rounds out the list of least experienced teams that also includes Mississippi State, St. John's, Bradley and Kentucky. Freshman
Tarkus Ferguson has started all eight games for the Flames, while classmates
Marcus Ottey and
K.J. Santos have each started six times. Another freshman,
Godwin Boahen, averages more 23 minutes per game off the bench while leading the squad in 3-point shooting at a clip of 44.8 percent (13-of-29). Redshirt freshman
Dominique Matthews and junior transfer
Kyle Guice have also started the last two games for UIC.
The influx of talented fresh faces has helped to boost the squad's offensive production. After averaging 68.1 points per game during McClain's first season (2015-16), the Flames have increased their output to 82.9 points per game. That number ranks UIC second in the Horizon League and 39
th in the NCAA in that category. UIC has scored at least 80 points six times in eight games this season after reaching that mark only four times a year ago. Sophomore
Dikembe Dixson ranks second in the Horizon League, and 13
th nationally, with 22.6 points per game.
There are multiple ways to follow the Flames in Phoenix this weekend. The Voice of the Flames, Jonathan Hood, will be courtside to call all the action for UICFlames.com. Grand Canyon University will also stream video of the ballgame through its YouTube channel. Links to the broadcasts can be found above, and on the schedule page.
More notes, statistics and information about Saturday's game can be found in the UIC Game Notes PDF linked above.
