Jan. 23, 2016
DAYTON, Ohio -- UIC wraps up a grueling stretch of three consecutive Horizon League road games and a total of five games in 11 days Sunday when it meets the first-place Wright State Raiders at the Nutter Center in a matinee at 1 p.m. CST.
The Flames are coming off an overtime battle in their first-ever meeting with the Northern Kentucky Norse on Friday night in Highland Heights, Ky. UIC forced overtime by holding the Norse without a point over the final 3:44 of regulation, but the visitors ran out of steam and fell in overtime, 82-69. The Raiders grabbed a share of first place in the Horizon League by handing the Valparaiso Crusaders their first loss in conference play Friday night, 73-62.
For more information about Sunday's game, please click the Game Notes PDFs above.
DOUBLING DOWN
After recording only two double-doubles in the first 16 games, UIC has garnered three in the last two outings. Sophomore Tai Odiase scored 11 points and matched a career high with 11 rebounds at Cleveland State on Monday to secure his first double-double of the season, and the third of his career. The Flames saw two players accomplish the feat on Friday at Northern Kentucky. Freshman Dikembe Dixson secured his third double-double behind a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Najeal Young posted his first double-double in a UIC uniform with 12 points and a career-high 10 boards against the Norse. The Flames registered two double-doubles in a game for the first time since Odiase and senior Jake Wiegand did so against St. Xavier on Nov. 25, 2014.
HERE COMES KOLAWOLE
UIC freshman Michael Kolawole has emerged as a key contributor since the onset of Horizon League play. The Rowlett, Texas, native has been the team's best shooter from the field (21-of-42; 50%) and beyond the arc (4-of-10; 40%) in seven conference games, while ranking second with 8.1 points per game. Kolawole shot 40 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range with 2.3 ppg in non-conference play. He is averaging 18.7 minutes per game over the last seven contests, up from 7.9 mpg prior to Jan. 2.
THESE KIDS CAN PLAY
UIC's roster features eight underclassmen, including six freshmen, one sophomore and one redshirt sophomore. That group, which comprises 61.5 percent of the roster has combined to play 2,433 minutes through 18 games, or 67.1 percent of the entire team's total. Underclassmen have scored 795 of 1,182 points (67.3 percent) for the Flames, while grabbing 422 of 713 rebounds (59.2 percent). Freshman Dikembe Dixson leads UIC in all three categories in his first collegiate season.
NAJEAL FITS NICELY
Junior transfer Najeal Young returned to court at Valparaiso on Jan. 2 after missing nearly 2.5 games with an injury he sustained at Loyola on Dec. 19. The Milwaukee, Wis., native has started four games since and he is averaging 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds against conference foes. He broke out offensively against Detroit on Jan. 8 with a career-high 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. On Jan. 22, Young earned his first double-double at Northern Kentucky with 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
LOCAL FLAVOR
Seven of the 13 players on UIC's roster are native to the state of Illinois, and seven of those Flames hail from the Chicagoland area. Seniors Gabe Snider (Whitney Young H.S.) is from Chicago, as is junior Josh Joiner (Willowbrook H.S.) and freshman Dominique Matthews (St. Rita H.S.). Sophomores Lance Whitaker (Bartlett H.S.) and Tai Odiase (Homewood-Flossmoor H.S.), plus freshman Julian Torres (Bolingbrook H.S.) call suburban Chicagoland home. Finally, freshman Dikembe Dixson is originally from Freeport, Ill., a town about 110 miles northwest of the Windy City.
MILESTONE WATCH
UIC, which began NCAA Division I play in 1981, needs only one win to reach No. 500 at this level. The first win of the Division I era came on Dec. 4, 1981, 74-66, at Wisconsin. The first team was fielded for the 1947-48 season, and the first triumph was over Aurora on Jan. 9, 1948, 49-43. To date the program owns 808 all-time victories.
Make plans to cheer on the home team at the UIC Pavilion when they open a five-game homestand on Thursday, Jan. 28 against the Youngstown State Penguins. Tickets are available for all remaining home games and can be obtained by calling 312-413-UIC1 (8421) or visiting Ticketmaster today.
