CHICAGO -- UIC opens Horizon League play on a big stage against the conference's defending champion, Wright State, in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN2. The Flames (6-7) and Raiders (6-7) will tipoff at the Nutter Center on Friday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.

This is the second consecutive season that UIC is being sent to Wright State to open the Horizon League portion of the schedule. The Raiders claimed the 2018 Horizon League championship and were tabbed to repeat in the conference's preseason poll. The Flames will continue the road trip at Northern Kentucky on Sunday, Dec. 30. The Norse, tabbed to finish second in the preseason poll, lead all Horizon League teams with 10 wins entering the weekend.

The Flames finished the 2017-18 season by winning seven consecutive road games against conference opponents. UIC dropped its first two decisions, at Wright State and at Northern Kentucky, before toppling every other Horizon League opponent beginning with a comeback win at IUPUI on Jan. 4. Head coach Steve McClain's squad extended the road winning streak to nine games with victories at Austin Peay and Liberty during the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.OK

Friday's game is the first of four nationally televised Horizon League contests for the Flames. Jordan Bernfield will handle the play-by-play Friday with former Coastal Carolina standout Brooke Weisbrod serving as lead analyst. It will also be available on WatchESPN. UIC will play three times on ESPNU, beginning on Friday, Jan. 4 against IUPUI at Credit Union 1 Arena.The Flames will also host Wright State (Feb. 1) and Green Bay (Feb. 22) on the network.

For more notes, statistics and information surrounding Friday's matchup, please click the UIC Game Notes (PDF) linked in the blue box above.