CHICAGO -- UIC head coach Steve McClain announced the Flames' schedule for the upcoming 2019-20 schedule Tuesday afternoon.
 
The announcement of the program's nonconference schedule came in conjunction with the Horizon League's unveiling of the conference slate for all 10 institutions Tuesday.
 
UIC's nonconference schedule is highlighted by contests against in-state rivals Bradley, DePaul and Illinois State and a trip to Boca Raton for the previously announced Boca Raton Beach Classic, hosted by Florida Atlantic. The schedule includes games against three opponents who went to the NCAA Tournament a year ago and two against NIT participants.
 
"I'm really pleased with the way this season's schedule came together," said head coach Steve McClain. "Our nonconference schedule allows us to continue some of our great in-state rivalries with Bradley, DePaul and Illinois State while providing our student-athletes the opportunity to travel to Florida to compete in the Boca Raton Beach Classic. Those games during nonconference play will be a great test for our program and will prepare us for another competitive season of Horizon League play. I'm looking forward to our fans filling up Credit Union 1 Arena all season long."
 
The Flames will open the season on Sunday, Nov. 3, with a home exhibition against Parkside before kicking off the regular season Nov. 5 or 6 against Olivet Nazarene. UIC then hits the road for the first time in 2019-20 on Nov. 8 or 9 to take on the Memphis Tigers, who advanced to the second round of the NIT a season ago.
 
UIC will play host a pair of first-time opponents in Ball State (Nov. 13) and Robert Morris (Nov. 21), with a quick trip down to 2019 NCAA Tournament participant Bradley (Nov. 16) in the middle of the two contests.
 
The Flames begin play in the Boca Raton Beach Classic with two home games on Nov. 23 and 26 against Mercer and Canisius, respectively. Following those two contests, UIC will head to Boca Raton for the remainder of the tournament. UIC will first play tournament hosts Florida Atlantic on Dec. 1 before concluding play against either San Diego or St. Bonaventure on Dec. 2. The Flames have never played Canisius, Florida Atlantic or St. Bonaventure.
 
After the trip to Florida, UIC returns home to face future Horizon League foe Purdue Fort Wayne for the first time ever on Dec. 7 prior to a pair of road contests against in-state rivals. The Flames will be making their second-ever trip to Wintrust Arena on Dec. 14 to take on DePaul in an intercity battle and will then head to Normal to face Illinois State on Dec. 18. The nonconference finale comes on Dec. 20 at home against UC Irvine, an NCAA Tournament participant a year ago who upset Kansas State in the opening round.
 
The conference portion of the schedule begins with a pair of home games ahead of New Years, with Cleveland State and Youngstown State coming to Credit Union 1 Arena on Dec. 28 and 30, respectively.
 
UIC rings in the New Year by heading north for a pair of road games at Green Bay (Jan. 3) and Milwaukee (Jan. 5) before home games against defending Horizon League champion Northern Kentucky (Jan. 10) and Wright State (Jan. 12).
 
A season-long five-game roadtrip awaits the Flames following the Jan. 12 contest against Wright State, with trips to IUPUI (Jan. 18), Oakland (Jan. 23), Detroit Mercy (Jan. 25), Youngstown State (Jan. 30) and Cleveland State (Feb. 1) on the schedule.
 
Five of UIC's final seven regular season games come at home, starting against Milwaukee (Feb. 6) and Green Bay (Feb. 8). The final two road contests of the regular season follow, with the Flames traveling to take on Wright State (Feb. 14) and Northern Kentucky (Nov. 16).
 
The final homestand begins on Feb. 22 against IUPUI before concluding with games against Detroit Mercy (Feb. 27) and Oakland (Feb. 29).
 
For information about ticket packages for the 2018-19 season, please click here or call the UIC Ticket Office at 312-413-8421.
 
The Flames return nine letterwinners from a season ago, including Tarkus Ferguson, an All-Horizon League and NABC All-District honoree last year. UIC returns 99.6 percent of its scoring and 99.2 percent of minutes play from the 2018-19 campaign.