DETROIT -- Following an emotional victory at Oakland on Friday night, the UIC Flames have a quick turnaround and limited time to prepare for another tough road test on Sunday, Feb. 4 at Detroit Mercy.

UIC (13-11, 8-3 Horizon League) won for the fifth consecutive time overall, and away from home, Friday night by claiming victory for the first time ever at Oakland's O'rena. The Flames led by as many as 12 points and held off several comeback attempts by the Golden Grizzlies to tighten the grip on third place in the Horizon League standings. Oakland shot 28.6 percent in the first half to help the visitors take a 10-point lead into the locker room. The home team clawed within two points on two occasions in the second half, but UIC never surrendered the lead en route to a 79-73 victory.

Tai Odiase paced the Flames with a season-high 19 points, making all eight of his field goal attempts Friday. Godwin Boahen added 16 points off the bench, while Marcus Ottey (15) and Tarkus Ferguson (13) were also in double figures for the victors. A host of UIC players did a remarkable job defending the nation's second-leading scorer, OU's Kendrick Nunn. The Chicagoan missed all nine of his field goal attempts in the first half and made only three of 13 in the second. As a team, the Golden Grizzlies made only three 3-pointers and shot 13.6 percent from beyond the arc, both season lows for any UIC opponent this season.

Detroit Mercy (7-17, 3-8 Horizon League) snapped a four-game slide Friday evening by toppling IUPUI at Calihan Hall Friday night, 74-60. The Titans received all 74 points from its starting five as Kameron Chatman led the way with a game-high 21 points. He also led his squad with eight rebounds against the Jaguars.

STARTING FIVE

• UIC has won eight of its last nine games dating back to Jan. 4 at IUPUI.
• The Flames (8-3) have achieved their best start in #HLMBB play since 2002-03 (9-2).
• UIC has won five consecutive road games for the first time under head coach Steve McClain, and the first time overall since the 2003-2004 season.
• The Flames won at Oakland's O'rena on Friday night for the first time ever.
• UIC's current five-game winning streak is its longest since the 2012-13 season (8).

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

• The ninth Horizon League victory of the season and sixth away from home.
• Three consecutive wins over the Titans for only the second time ever and the first since Jan. 22-Dec. 31, 2009.
• The program's first winning streak of at least six games since Nov. 17-Dec. 15, 2012 (8).
• Nine wins in Horizon League play for the first time since 2007-08 (9-9).

ROAD WARRIORS

• UIC has won five consecutive road games for the first time under head coach Steve McClain. The streak started with a win at IUPUI on Jan. 4 and continued with victories at Youngstown State, Cleveland State, Milwaukee and Oakland  on Jan. 18, Jan. 20, Jan. 29 and Feb. 2, respectively.
• The Flames have won five consecutive road games for the first time since Jan. 26-March 9, 2004 (7).
• UIC's 18-point victory at Milwaukee on Monday was the largest in a road game under McClain. The Flames also downed Youngstown State by 14 points on Jan. 18.
• Prior to this year the Flames had not won a true road game by more than five points since McClain took over.

MAGNIFICENT MARGIN

• In the 13 wins this season, the Flames have topped opponents by no fewer than five points, and by an average of 16.8 points per game.
• The 18-point margin of victory at Milwaukee on Jan. 29 was the largest in a true road game under game under head coach Steve McClain.
• UIC's 40-point victory over Delaware State on Nov. 16 (95-55) marked the largest margin of victory in the McClain era.

SCOUTING THE TITANS

• The Titans lead the Horizon League with an average of 9.1 3-point field goals made per game. Detroit Mercy ranks second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage at 35.8 percent in 24 games.
• Two UDM players - Kameron Chatman and Corey Allen - are shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc on the season. Chatman converts at 46.5 percent, while Allen is at 40.3 percent entering Sunday.
• Chatman is also the top rebounder for the Titans, hauling down 8.8 rpg.

More notes, statistics and information can be found in the UIC Game Notes (PDF) linked in the blue box above.