CHICAGO -- UIC is attempting to reach the semifinals of a postseason tournament for the second consecutive season when it travels to Austin Peay to take on the Governors in a CollegeBasketballInsider.com Tournament (CIT) quarterfinal contest on Wednesday, March 21 at 7 p.m. The Flames, having won seven consecutive road games, will be facing APSU for the first time in program history.

UIC (18-15, 12-6 Horizon League) routed Saint Francis (PA) in the CIT opener on March 14, 84-61. It was both the most points scored and largest margin of victory in the program's postseason history, which spans to the 1997-98 season. Six players scored in double figures to lead a balanced with the leading scorer - Clint Robinson - coming off the bench. The senior matched a career high with 15 points in only 18 minutes of action. Behind 11 points and 10 rebounds, Tarkus Ferguson added his third double-double of the season and second in four career postseason games.

Austin Peay (19-14, 12-6 OVC) reached the quarterfinals by defeating Louisiana-Monroe in its first CIT game on March 15, 80-66. The Govs never trailed in the contest after opening the game by scoring its first 10 points. All-OVC First Team selection Averyl Ugba netted a game-high 27 points, while freshman Terry Taylor notched a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.

STARTING FIVE

1. UIC is playing in a postseason tournament for the seventh time in program history. It is the second time in the CIT (also 2013).
2. The Flames are looking to advance to the semifinals of their postseason tournament for the second time in as many years.
3. UIC won 12 conference games this year for the first time since 2003-04 (12).
4. UIC has won at least 17 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 campaigns.
5. UIC picked up two #HLMBB specialty awards when Tai Odiase was named the Defensive Player of the Year, and Godwin Boahen, the Sixth Man of the Year.

A WIN AT AUSTIN PEAY WOULD GIVE UIC...

• Eight consecutive road wins for the first time in program history.
• At least two postseason victories in each of the team's last two appearances (also 2017 CBI).
• 19 wins in a season for the first time since 2003-04 (24).

NOT IN TAI'S HOUSE

• Tai Odiase owns 357 blocks, most in UIC and Horizon League history, after swatting six against Saint Francis on March 14.
• The Glenwood, Ill., native is the NCAA's active leader in total career blocks (357) and ranks sixth in career blocks per game (2.81).
• In UIC's last game, Odiase broke a tie with Basketball Hall of Famer David Robinson (Navy; 1985-87) and passed another Hall of Famer, Dikembe Mutombo (Georgetown; 1988-91), by three blocks. He is now tied for 39^th all-time.
• He ranks third in NCAA with 3.27 blocks per game this year, and averaged 3.4 blocks per game in UIC's 18 Horizon League contests.

BLOCK PARTY

• UIC leads the Horizon League and ranks second nationally among 351 teams with 7.1 blocks per game.
• Michigan State is the NCAA leader through games of March 18 with 7.2 blocks per game.
• Fellow CIT participant Eastern Michigan ranks third behind UIC with 6.4 blocks per game.
• 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 10 shots on March 14 against Saint Francis, marking the sixth time this year the Flames had reached double-digits.

BENCH BOOST

• UIC's bench is averaging 22.8 points per game through 32 contests and has outscored the opposition's reserves by 148 total points this season.
• The Flames scored 32 points off the bench on Feb. 8 vs. YSU, most in an Horizon League game this season, and most since netting 32 at No. 8 Kentucky on Nov. 26.
• The bench had a season-high 39 points vs. Delaware State.
• UIC's leading scorer has come off the bench eight times, including last time out vs. Saint Francis (Clint Robinson - 15 points).

SCOUTING THE GOVERNORS

• Austin Peay has won 19 games under first-year head coach Matt Figger. The Governors were 12-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play, finishing third behind Murray State and Belmont.
• The Govs are 4-0 all-time in postseason home games. APSU knocked off Louisiana-Monore in the first round of the 2018 CIT, 80-66, on March 15.
• Two Govs, Terry Taylor and Averyl Ugba, were named to the All-OVC First Team and Newcomer Team. Taylor was named Freshman of the Year.
• Ugba averages a team-high 15.8 points per game, while Taylor nets 15.1 ppg and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game.
• Austin Peay boasts one of the nation's most improved defenses. After surrendering 83.8 ppg a year ago, Figger's squad has held the opposition to 71.6 ppg during his first season in Clarksville.

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