Skip To Main Content

UIC Athletics

thevalley
Marcus Ottey

Flames to Face DePaul at Wintrust Arena

UIC seeks second straight road win against Blue Demons

12/13/2018 1:27:00 PM

CHICAGO -- UIC will play a road game in its own backyard Friday night, when the Flames travel less than three miles to take on the DePaul Blue Demons inside Wintrust Arena at 6 p.m. CT. The nationally-televised contest between crosstown rivals will air on FS1.

UIC (4-6) is seeking its second consecutive road win in the series with DePaul (6-2). The Flames won as guests at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park on Dec. 14, 2016, 80-75. UIC overcame an eight-point halftime deficit and took the lead for good with 56 seconds remaining to stun the Blue Demons. DePaul shot over 62 percent in the first half and only 30 percent in the second. Eli Cain of DePaul scored a game-high 27 points, including 18 in the first half. Four Flames scored in double figures that night, including current standouts Tarkus Ferguson (12) and Marcus Ottey (11), who were true freshmen at the time.

The Flames are seeking their first road win of the season and their third win against an in-state opponent. UIC topped Bradley (Nov. 17) and Illinois State (Dec. 5) earlier this season at Credit Union 1 Arena. DePaul is unbeaten in six games at Wintrust Arena with notable wins over Big Ten foe Penn State and Horizon League opponent Cleveland State.

Friday's game is the first half of a Horizon League-BIG EAST doubleheader on FS1. After the Flames face the Blue Demons at 6 p.m. CT, Green Bay will play at Creighton at 8:15 p.m.
 
3-POINT PLAY
  • UIC visits Wintrust Arena for the first time ever Friday. The last time the Flames played a road game at DePaul, they beat the Blue Demons at McGrath-Phillips Arena on Dec. 14, 2016, 80-75.
  • The Flames are seeking their first road win of the season in their sixth attempt. UIC was 9-8 in true road games last season and won nine in a row between Jan. 4 at IUPUI and March 28 at Liberty.
  • Friday's game is the final non-conference road test this year. Next time UIC plays on the road will be on Dec. 28 at Wright State.
BLOUNT'S BIG WEEK
  • Junior Jordan Blount averaged 23.5 points and shot 71.4 percent (20-of-28) from the floor against Illinois State and Colorado.
  • The Cork, Ireland, native poured in a career-high 27 points and matched a personal best with five steals against the Redbirds on Dec. 5.
  • Blount added 20 points, six rebounds and two steals at CU on Dec. 8.
  • He joins Tarkus Ferguson as the only two UIC players to score at least 20 points in back-to-back games this season.
TARKUS' TRIPLE-DOUBLE
  • Guard Tarkus Ferguson posted only the second triple-double in program history on Dec. 5 against Illinois State, and the first against a Division I opponent.
  • Ferguson tallied 14 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists to help the Flames win big.
  • The 12 boards matched a career high and the 11 dimes equaled a season high.
  • He is one of 15 players in the NCAA to record a triple-double this season, and one of two in the Horizon League (Drew McDonald, NKU).
  • Godwin Boahen notched the first triple-double in UIC history on Dec. 22, 2016 against Roosevelt. He had 13 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists vs. the NAIA foe.
OT-STANDING PERFORMANCES
  • Guard Marcus Ottey recently scored a game-high 20 points on Dec. 1 against Loyola Chicago, while shooting 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the floor.
  • At Colorado, Ottey netted a game-best 22 points, shooting 67 percent (10-of-15).
  • Ottey's 10 field goals against both the Ramblers and Buffaloes mark a season high. He has hit at least 10 field goals in a game five times in his career.
  • The Preseason All-Horizon League First Team selection was the only UIC player to score in double digits in the first eight games before tallying only nine points against Illinois State on Dec. 5.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEMONS
  • DePaul is 6-2 on the young season, winning all six of its games at Wintrust Arena thus far.
  • Three Blue Demons average double figures with Max Strus leading the way with 18.5 points per game. he is also the team's top rebounder with 7.8 per game.
  • DePaul topped Chicago State Wednesday night, 104-70. Strus had a season-high 27 points and five 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
  • UIC will wrap up the non-conference portion of its schedule with a pair of home games next week.
  • The Flames will host Incarnate Word on Dec. 17 and Saint Francis (Ill.) on Dec. 21 at Credit Union 1 Arena.
  • UIW is 5-6 on the season and 1-6 against Division I opponents. The Cardinals have not played since Dec. 9 at LSU.
  • Incarnate Word will remain in Chicago next week to play DePaul on Dec. 19.
  • Chicago native Christian Peevy leads UIW in scoring with 14.0 points per game. He has played in all 11 games, but only made four starts this season.
More notes, statistics and information for Friday's game can be found in the UIC Game Notes (PDF) linked in the blue box above.


 
Print Friendly Version