CHICAGO -- The UIC men's basketball team closes out the calendar year on Monday, Dec. 30, as the Flames play host to Youngstown State in Horizon League action. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

3 POINT PLAY

• UIC opened up Horizon League play with a 71-66 victory over Cleveland State on Saturday, Dec. 28. Godwin Boahen scored a 21 points off the bench to lead the Flames while Braelen Bridges recorded a double double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. UIC opened conference play 1-0 for the second time under head coach Steve McClain.

• The Flames look to start conference play 2-0 for the first time since UIC began the 2007-08 conference slate 3-0. 

• Tarkus Ferguson is one of two active players in Division I basketball with at least 1,300 career points, 600 career rebounds and 500 career assists.

SERIES STUFF

• Monday evening's game will be the 44th meeting all-time beteween the Flames and the Penguins. UIC leads the season series, 30-13.

• Youngstown State won the most recent meeting, an 81-73 victory on Feb. 16 last year. The victory broke UIC's streak of five consecutive wins in the series.

• The Flames oepend the season series by winning the first 16 games. UIC did not lose a game from the series inception in 1993 until a 92-87 defeat on Feb. 3, 2007.

• Jerrod Calhoun is in his third season at the helm of Youngstown State and owns a record of 28-50 while leading the Penguin program.

• Darius Quisenberry is the only player on Youngstown State's scoring in double figures, averaging 15.7 points per game.

• YSU is one of the top rebounding teams in the country, ranking seventh with 567 on the year.

CLEAN THE GLASS

• In UIC's 71-66 victory over Cleveland State on Dec. 28, the Flames dominated the rebounding battle. UIC outrebounded the Vikings, 36-21, marking the largest rebounding margin for the Flames this year (+15).

• Individually, Braelen Bridges recorded a game-high 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass.

• Jordan Blount added seven rebounds, setting a season high for the senior in his third game back from injury.

• UIC improved to 4-1 on the year when winning the rebounding battle.