CHICAGO -- Two teams with identical overall and Horizon League records will lock horns Friday night at Credit Union 1 Arena, when the Green Bay Phoenix and UIC Flames square off in a nationally-televised game at 8 p.m. CT. Both teams have 8-6 records in conference and enter the weekend tied for third place in the League standings and are two games behind co-leaders Northern Kentucky and Wright State with four games to play.

UIC (14-13, 8-6 Horizon League) saw its four-game winning streak snapped at the hands of red-hot Youngstown State on Feb. 16. The Flames led by as many as 12 points during the first half, but the Penguins got a career-high 37 points from Horizon League Freshman of the Week Darius Quisenberry to pull away late in the second half. Prior to that game, UIC had won its last three games by seven combined points. It closed a four-game homestand by knocking off NKU on Feb. 3, 69-67, before topping IUPUI on Feb. 9, 76-75. Last weekend began by taking out Cleveland State, 81-77, thanks to a late basket from Marcus Ottey and a steal and free throws from Tarkus Ferguson to seal the victory.

Green Bay (14-13, 8-6 Horizon League) has been victorious in four of its last five contests as well. The Phoenix swept Oakland and Detroit Mercy at the Resch Center last weekend to bounce back after falling at Youngstown State on Feb. 9, 96-77. Over the period of the last five games,GB is allowing 72.4 points per game, a significant improvement from its defensive scoring average for the season of 81.3 points per game.

Friday's game will showcase two of the conference's most reliable talents. Green Bay's Sandy Cohen III is the only Division I player to lead his team in every major statistical category, including scoring (16.6 ppg), rebounding (6.4 rpg), assists (4.7 apg), steals (1.9 spg), blocks (1.0 bpg) and minutes (32.7 mpg). UIC's Ferguson leads the Flames in all categories except scoring, where he trails teammate Marcus Ottey by only 0.8 ppg in that area. The Belleville, Ill., native averages 15.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.5 spg, 0.9 bpg and 36.3 mpg. Cohen averages more points, steals and blocks, while Ferguson has the edge in rebounds, assists and minutes.

Green Bay won the first meeting between the squads this season on Jan. 19, 90-85. Godwin Boahen posted a career-high 25 points to lead the Flames that day, while Michael Diggins made a rare start and notched a career-best 16 points that came with the help of two 3-pointers and four dunks. Cohen led all players with 26 points. Click here for a full recap of that game.

Tickets remain on sale for the pivotal Horizon League matchup and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by calling 312-413-UIC1 (8421). For fans unable to make it to Credit Union 1 Arena, Friday's game will be broadcast on ESPNU and also available through Watch ESPN. Jordan Bernfield and Kevin Lehman will be on the call.

More statistics, notes and information surrounding Friday's game can be found by clicking the UIC Game Notes (PDF) linked in the blue box above.