CHICAGO -- UIC closes out a quick two-game homestand on Tuesday, Dec. 1 as the Flames play host to Valparaiso in the final game of the UIC Basketball Invitational. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3. The Flames improved to 2-0 to start the year for the first time since 2007 with a 74-72 win over Central Michigan Saturday afternoon. RayQuawndis Mitchell scored a game-high 23 points while Braelen Bridges added his first double-double of the year and fourth of his career with 17 points and 13 rebounds.  UIC faces Valparaiso for the 56th time in the series history and will be looking to start the year 3-0 for the first time since 2001-02 when the Flames went 20-14 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
•    RayQuawndis Mitchell picked up the first weekly honor for the Flames this season as he was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Nov. 30.
•    For the week, Mitchell averaged 17.5 points per game while shooting 43.5% from the field and 53.3% from 3-point range.
•    Mitchell began the week with a game-winning 3-pointer against Northern Illinois (Nov. 25), finishing with 12 points, before scoring a game-high 23 points in a win over Central Michigan (Nov. 28).
•    He is the first Flame to earn Player of the Week honors since Tarkus Ferguson did so on Feb. 4, 2019.

EARLY-SEASON WINS
•    Head coach Luke Yaklich picked up his first win as a college head coach with a 65-51 win over Northern Illinois in the Flames' regular season debut Nov. 25.
•    He became the fifth head coach to win their head coaching debut with the Flames and first since Willie Little's squad defeated Brooklyn, 91-77, on Nov. 26, 1983.
•    The Flames then defeated Central Michigan, 74-72, on Nov. 28 in UIC's home opener to improve to 2-0 on the year. It is the ninth 2-0 start in UIC's DI history and first since 2007-08.
•    The win over the Huskies marked the fifth consecutive home opening win for UIC dating back to the 2016-17 season. UIC has now won 31 home openers in its DI history is 17-4 in home debuts since 2000-01.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
•    Braelen Bridges recorded the first double-double of the season for the Flames against Central Michigan (Nov. 28) with 17 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Chippewas.
•    It was Bridges' fourth double-double of his career after tallying three a season ago.
•    The 13 rebounds fell one shy of matching Bridges' career-high of 14, set last year at DePaul.
•    Teyvion Kirk nearly registered a double-double in the season debut against Northern Illinois, finishing with 12 points and a team-high nine assists.