CHICAGO -- The UIC Flames open the final weekend of the 2018-19 regular season on Thursday, Feb. 28, when they travel to Rochester, Mich., where they will meet the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. With matching conference records of 9-7, the Flames and Golden Grizzlies begin the weekend as two of three teams in a three-way tie for third place in the Horizon League standings along with the Green Bay Phoenix.

UIC (15-14, 9-7 Horizon League) is attempting to clinch a top-four seed for the Little Caesars Horizon League Championship, and a home game in the quarterfinal round that goes along with that distinction. The Flames and Oakland (13-16, 9-7 Horizon League) will break part of the tie, at least temporarily, on Thursday. On Saturday, UIC will visit Detroit Mercy (10-18, 7-9 Horizon League) and the Golden Grizzlies will host IUPUI (16-13, 8-8 Horizon League). Both games are at 3 p.m. CT.

The other team in the trio, Green Bay (15-14, 9-7 Horizon League), hosts Wright State and Northern Kentucky this weekend. The Phoenix play the first-place Raiders on Thursday night before closing the regular season against NKU on Saturday at noon. Green Bay holds the tiebreaker over UIC as the Phoenix topped the Flames in both regular-season matchups.

UIC enters the week possessing the conference's top field-goal percentage defense both in all games and in Horizon League play. The Flames are the only team in the conference holding foes below 40 percent from the field (.397) through 16 Horizon League games. Oakland ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage defense in League games (.436), but ninth in all games (.467).

The Flames are seeking to avenge a loss at the hands of the Golden Grizzlies at Credit Union 1 Arena on Jan. 26. UIC made a season-low two 3-pointers in that game after entering the contest averaging 10.4 triples per game. The team's leading scorer, Marcus Ottey, scored a season-high 24 points against Oakland.

Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+. More statistics, notes and information surrounding the upcoming game can be found by clicking the UIC Game Notes (PDF) linked in the blue box above