Dec. 21, 2015
CHICAGO -- UIC will host the Purdue Calumet University Peregrines Tuesday night in its penultimate nonconference clash at the UIC Pavilion. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. CST.
The Flames are seeking to put an emphatic stop to the current six-game slide as UIC's last victory came on Nov. 24 when it knocked off another Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe, the Roosevelt Lakers. The Peregrines will arrive at the Pavilion mired in a three-game losing streak of their own. Purdue Calumet has dropped eight of its last nine decisions after beginning the season with four wins in five tries.
Below are a few headlines as UIC preps to entertain the Peregrines in a pre-holiday tilt Tuesday night:
FINE FRESHMEN
Two members of UIC's talented freshmen class have particularly distinguished themselves in the early going this season. Newcomer Dikembe Dixson is the team's leading scorer and rebounder with 12.4 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game, respectively. He's registered double-doubles in two of the last three outings, while starting all nine games for the Flames thus far. Classmate Dominique Matthews is the team's second leading scorer with 10.4 points per game, and he is averaging 15 points per contest over the last three games.
LINEUP SHUFFLE
For the first time this season, UIC head coach Steve McClain used the same starting lineup in back-to-back games when Paris Burns, Dikembe Dixson, Dominique Matthews, Tai Odiase and Lance Whitaker opened Saturday's game at Loyola together. In total, ten different Flames have received a starting nod this year, while Odiase and Dixson have opened all nine games thus far. The quintet mentioned above has combined to make 35 starts this season and 71 over the course of their careers.
DIXSON RACKS UP WEEKLY HONORS
In six weeks' time, UIC freshman forward Dikembe Dixson has twice been named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week by the conference office. On Monday, Nov. 16, Dixson was named the first Horizon League Freshman of the Week for the 2015-16 season. The Freeport, Ill., native led the Flames with 13 points in his collegiate debut against San Francisco on Nov. 13. He was also acknowledged on Monday, Dec. 14 after registering his first collegiate double-double behind 20 points and a game-high 10 rebounds against Illinois on Dec. 12. Dixson scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half, and he also handed out a career-high four assists against the Fighting Illini. Dixson, Detroit's Josh McFolley and Cleveland State's Rob Edwards have each captured the honor twice this season.
BIRTHDAY BOY DELIVERS
Senior Gabe Snider turned in one of his best efforts of the season on Dec. 19 at Loyola. Coinciding with his 22nd birthday, Snider matched a career high with 11 points in 24 minutes off the bench for the Flames. The Chicagoan also matched personal-best marks with four field goals and three 3-point field goals against the Ramblers. Sophomore Lance Whitaker will celebrate his birthday on Wed., Dec. 23, but Snider is the only member of UIC's squad with a gameday birthday this season.
REST AND RECOVER Following Tuesday's game against Purdue Calumet, the Flames will be idle until Tuesday, Dec. 29 when the Northern Illinois Huskies come calling to the UIC Pavilion for the nonconference finale. It will be the third of four week-long breaks this season, with the last coming between Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 when UIC hosts Cleveland State and Valparaiso, respectively. The Flames are 1-1 following an extended rest this season.
For more information about Tuesday's game, please click the Game Notes PDFs above.
After the holiday break the Flames will be back at the UIC Pavilion on Tuesday, Dec. 29 to host the Northern Illinois Huskies at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 312-413-UIC1 (8421) or visiting Ticketmaster today.
