CHICAGO -- Sitting only a game out of first place in the Horizon League standings, UIC begins a three-game homestand that closes the regular season on Monday, Feb. 19, when the Detroit Mercy Titans invade the UIC Pavilion at 7 p.m. CT.

After tangling with the Titans (8-20, 4-11 Horizon League) on Monday, the Flames (16-12, 11-4 Horizon League) will also host Northern Kentucky and Wright State on Friday, Feb. 23, and Sunday, Feb. 25. The Norse and Raiders enter the week tied atop the League standings with matching records of 12-3, one game ahead of UIC.

It's the final countdown to the end of the regular season and tickets to all three games are still available. Fans can use the promo code "GOUIC" on Ticketmaster to get seats for as low as $10 to MotorCityMadness Night Monday and 90's Night on Friday. UIC is also planning to PackThePav on Senior Day, Sunday, Feb. 25, with family-friendly activities schedules and tickets available for only $5 with the code "PACK"

STARTING FIVE

• The Flames (11-4) have won 11 conference games for the first time since 2003-04 (12), UIC's last NCAA Tournament season.
• UIC has swept the regular-season series against IUPUI, Milwaukee, Youngstown State and Green Bay.
• The Flames won for the third time when trailing at the half Friday. UIC was down four at the break and went on to lead by 11 before winning by eight at Green Bay.
• UIC won in Green Bay for the first time since 2004 on Friday.
• UIC has won seven consecutive road games games, and 11 of 13 overall, since Jan. 4 at IUPUI.

A WIN VS. DETROIT MERCY WOULD GIVE UIC...

• Its 12^th Horizon League victory of the year, most since 2003-2004 (12).
• The first four-game winning streak against the Titans in the history of the series.
• The fifth regular-season series sweep of an Horizon League opponent this year.
• At least 17 wins overall for the second consecutive season under Steve McClain.

CLOSING TIME

• UIC is 13-0 this season when leading at the half. The squad has three second-half comebacks, erasing halftime deficits to top IUPUI on Jan. 4 (7 pts) and Jan. 27 (5 pts), and Green Bay (4 pts) on Friday.
• The Flames have shot 49.4 percent from the floor, 42.2 percent from downtown and 75.8 percent from the free throw line in the second half of their 11 Horizon League wins.
• UIC's opponents in those games are shooting 38.5 percent overall and 31.6 percent from 3-point range in the same span.
• UIC is 0-2 when tied at half (Fort Wayne and Wright State).

TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR THREE REMAINING HOME GAMES - CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TODAY!

BLOCK PARTY

• UIC leads the Horizon League and ranks second nationally among 351 teams with 6.8 blocks per game. The Flames are averaging 8.7 per game over the last three outings.
• Michigan State is the NCAA leader through games of Feb. 17 with 7.4 blocks per game.
• Louisville (6.5) ranks just behind UIC.
• On Dec. 6 against UW-Parkside, the Flames matched a high in the Steve McClain era for the third time with 12 blocks.
• UIC blocked 11 shots on Jan. 18 at Youngstown State, marking the fourth time this year the Flames had double-digits.

NOT IN TAI'S HOUSE

• Tai Odiase owns 337 blocks, most in UIC and Horizon League history, after swatting four against Green Bay Friday.
• The Glenwood, Ill., native is the NCAA's active leader in total career blocks (337) and ranks fourth in career blocks per game (2.76).
• He ranks sixth in NCAA with 3.14 blocks per game this year, and is averaging 3.3 blocks per game in UIC's 15 Horizon League contests.
• The senior's season-high seven blocks against UW-Parkside on Dec. 6 marked the seventh time in his career that he has swatted at least as many shots in a single game.
• He has rejected at least one shot in 108 of his 122 career games (88.5%).

SCOUTING THE TITANS

• Detroit Mercy enters Monday's meeting with a record of 8-20 and a 4-11 mark in Horizon League play. They are 2-10 away from Calihan Hall with wins at Saint Louis (Nov. 22) and Youngstown State (Feb. 16).
• The Titans are led in scoring and rebounding by Kameron Chatman. The former Michigan Wolverine averages 18.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game at Detroit Mercy. He has nine double-doubles this year, which ranks third in the Horizon League.
• The team's second and third leading scorers - Corey Allen (14.9 ppg) and Jermaine Jackson, Jr. (11.5 ppg) - did not play against UIC on Feb. 4.
• Detroit Mercy leads the conference and ranks 79th nationally with 8.8 3-pointers made per game.

More notes, statistics and information for Monday's contest can be found in the UIC Game Notes PDF linked above.