CHICAGO -- UIC will look to extend its winning streak to four games for the first time since 2012 on Monday, Jan. 15, when Oakland visits the UIC Pavilion for a highly-anticipated Horizon League clash at 7 p.m. CT.
Limited tickets remain available for Monday's game. To celebrate the current three-game winning streak UIC is offering a special ticket package. Buy three tickets and get one FREE for all remaining home games. Click below and select ME+3 to take advantage of this special offering.
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UIC (8-10, 3-2 Horizon League) has won three in a row, including the first two contests of the current homestand. It is the second three-game winning streak under head coach
Steve McClain and the first since defeating Cleveland State, Youngstown State and Milwaukee in succession between Jan. 12-17, 2017.
The Flames have shot over 50 percent in back-to-back games to defeat Green Bay and Milwaukee this week. It was the first time under head coach
Steve McClain that the squad has hit that mark in consecutive contests. The Flames have also turned in 38 assists in the last two contests with sophomore
Tarkus Ferguson accounting for 21 helpers against the Phoenix and Panthers.
Oakland (11-8, 3-3 Horizon League) comes to Chicago having won back-to-back games, as well. The Golden Grizzlies defended their home court with wins over Youngstown State and Cleveland State last week. Oakland's high-powered offense features the Horizon League's top three scorers. Former Simeon Career Academy standout and Illinois transfer
Kendrick Nunn leads the bunch, and ranks third in the NCAA, with 25.4 points per game.
Jalen Hayes is second in the conference in scoring and
Martez Walker ranks third. All three are fifth-year seniors.
STARTING FIVE
- UIC concludes a three-game homestand on Monday, Jan. 15 against Oakland.
- This is the third of four UIC homestands that stretches at least three games.
- Further, UIC is in the midst of a busy stretch of five games in 11 days that began Wednesday against Green Bay.
- The Flames have shot over 50 percent in back-to-back games for the first time in the Steve McClain era.
- The Flames have won three consecutive games for the first time this season, and the first time overall since Jan. 12-17, 2017.
A WIN VS. OAKLAND WOULD GIVE UIC...
- The fourth Horizon League victory of the season and third at the UIC Pavilion.
- At least one win against every current Horizon League school under head coach Steve McClain.
- The program's first winning streak of at least four games since Nov. 17-Dec. 15, 2012 (9).
OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY
- UIC is shooting 53 percent from the floor during the current three-game winning streak that began Jan. 4 at IUPUI.
- The Flames have shot at least 50 percent in back-to-back games for the first time under Steve McClain and the first time overall since Feb. 8 and 12, 2015.
- UIC had its best performance of the year from the floor on Jan. 10 vs. Green Bay, shooting 58.2 percent in the victory.
- The Flames made a season-high 34 field goals Friday night against Milwaukee.
- UIC is averaging 16.7 assists per game over the last three, assisting on 57.5 percent of its made field goals in that span.
ON THE DEFENSIVE
- UIC leads the Horizon League in field goal percentage defense with the opposition shooting only 40.5 percent against the Flames this season.
- In conference games only, UIC allows opponents to shoot an Horizon League-low 39.0 percent from the field.
- UIC has held all five conference opponents below their season average in field goal percentage. Wright State shot 10.5 percent below its average, Northern Kentucky 7.0 percent below, IUPUI 1.9 percent below, Green Bay 1.2 percent below and Milwaukee 6.7 percent below.
- In the first half of UIC's five Horizon League games, the opposition is shooting only 38.5 percent from the field.
YOUTH STILL SERVED
- Out of 351 Division I teams, UIC ranked as the least experienced in the country in 2016-17 according to KenPom.com.
- The Flames boasted an average of 0.67 years of Division I playing experience last season.
- Despite the youth, UIC was one of the nation's most improved squads with 12 more wins than the previous season.
- Through 18 games this year, the Flames rank as the youngest team in the Horizon League, and 288th in NCAA, with 1.32 years of experience.
- Oakland is the most experienced team in the conference with 2.20 years of experience. The Golden Grizzlies rank 32nd in the NCAA.
The game will be televised on NBC Sports Chicago and also available on ESPN3 (subject to local blackout). More statistics, notes and information can be found in the UIC Game Notes PDF linked in the blue box above.
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