TROY, Ala. -- UIC will play the middle game of a three-game road trip and the final game of the 2017 Adolph Rupp Classic Wednesday night, Nov. 29, when it meets Troy at Trojan Arena at 7 p.m. CT.
The Flames (2-3) enter the contest seeking to snap a two-game skid. UIC opened the Adolph Rupp Classic with a 40-point win over Delaware State on Nov. 16 before dropping contests to Fort Wayne and No. 8 Kentucky. Last time out against the Wildcats, a season-high five different players scored in double figures for UIC.
Godwin Boahen led the way with 17 points off the bench, while
Tai Odiase (15) and
Clint Robinson (10) also posted season highs in the scoring column. In addition to that trio,
Dikembe Dixson scored 14, including 12 in the second half, and
Dominique Matthews added 12 points at UK.
The Trojans (4-3) are also playing their final game in the Rupp Classic Wednesday night. Troy fell to Kentucky to open the tournament before winning decisions over East Tennessee State and Delaware State. The team's leading scorer,
Jordon Varnado, like UIC's
Dikembe Dixson, is a candidate for the Lou Henson Award that is bestowed upon the nation's top mid-major player. Varnado is averaging 19.0 points per game, however he did not play Monday night against Delaware State because of a nagging foot injury. Another dangerous weapon,
Wesley Person, is close behind at 18.4 points per game and he poured in 22 points with five 3-pointers in 23 minutes against the Hornets.
BOOST FROM THE BENCH
- UIC has two players who are averaging double figures off the bench in Godwin Boahen (12.0 ppg/4 games) and Marcus Ottey (10.8 ppg/5 games).
- That pair is shooting 50.7 percent (37-of-73) from the field and 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from 3-point range off the bench.
- UIC's bench averages 29.4 points per game, outscoring the opposition four of five times, including the last three games against Delaware State, Fort Wayne and No. 8 Kentucky.
CENTURY MARK
- Senior Tai Odiase will play in his 100th career game in a UIC uniform on Wednesday night.
- The Glenwood, Ill. native has played in 86 consecutive games entering the contest at Troy.
- Odiase has started all 71 games coached by Steve McClain and 75 straight games overall.
SOPHOMORE STANDOUTS
- In five games, UIC has been led in scoring by four different sophomores.
- Godwin Boahen netted a team-high 15 points against North Carolina Central on Nov. 10 and 17 points at Kentucky Sunday.
- Dikembe Dixson poured in 23 against Saint Joseph's, Dominique Matthews tallied 19 vs. Delaware State and Marcus Ottey scored 12 against Fort Wayne.
- Dixson, who scored 14 points at Kentucky, is averaging a team-high 14.2 ppg.
- Tarkus Ferguson is tied for fifth on the Flames in scoring (7.6 ppg) and leads the squad with 3.6 assists per game.
- Six sophomores account for 75 percent of the team's scoring this season with 273 out of 366 total points.
UNDERCLASS ACHIEVERS
- UIC is one of six NCAA programs to begin the season with three or fewer upperclassmen.
- The five other teams are: Kentucky (2), North Florida (2), Chattanooga (3), The Citadel (3) and George Mason (3).
- The Flames currently carry two seniors in Tai Odiase and Clint Robinson, and one junior in Naradain James.
- Head coach Steve McClain's roster of 12 features six sophomores and three freshmen.
- The underclassmen have played 77.1 percent (790-of-1,025) of the team's possible minutes this season.
More game notes, statistics and information for Wednesday's game is available by clicking the the UIC Game Notes link that is in the blue preview box above.
