Dec. 14, 2006

UIC vs. Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
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Chicago, Ill. - The UIC men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Akron, the Preseason Mid-American Conference East Division favorites, to the Pavilion hardwood for a 3 p.m. tip.

The game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. It will also be aired on ESPN Radio 1000 AM with a special two-hour pre-game show hosted by Mike Kamin and Chris Boden starting at 1 p.m.

The Flames sit at 5-5 on the year and are a perfect 3-0 at home. UIC has had a week off for final exams after dropping a hard-fought decision to Illinois last Saturday at the United Center, 71-66.

Junior Othyus Jeffers continues to pace the Flames' attack, leading the team in scoring (15.3 ppg), rebounding (8.7 rpg), field goal percentage (.524) and steals (2.0 spg) while ranking in the top 10 in the Horizon League in all four categories.

This is the start of a rigorous stretch for UIC. The Flames will play four games in the next seven days with stops after Saturday's tilt with Akron at Mississippi (Dec. 19) and Penn (Dec. 21), before returning home to take on Illinois State (Dec. 23).

The Zips come into their showdown with UIC riding a six-game winning streak and are 3-0 in road games this year. Akron has shot better than 50 percent from the field in each of its seven contests this year and boasts a team shooting percentage of .521.

Senior Romeo Travis, a 6-foot-7 forward, leads the Zips, averaging 14.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.