CHICAGO -- UIC hits the road for its third MAC opponent of the season, taking on Ball State on Saturday, Dec. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT) on ESPN3.

UIC improved to 3-0 to start the year for the first time since 2001 with a 66-50 win over Valparaiso last time out. Teyvion Kirk had a nearly flawless game, finishing with his first-career double-double with 14 points and 14 assists while committing just one turnover.

The Flames have limited opponents to just 14.3% shooting from 3-point range this season, first in the Horizon League and ninth nationally. UIC limited Valpo to 7.1% shooting from deep, the third -lowest opposing 3-point field goal percentage dating back to 2010.

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.

DISH IT OUT

• Teyvion Kirk had a stellar performance against Valparaiso on Dec. 1, finishing the game with 14 points and 14 assists.

• The 14 helpers are the most for UIC this season and most since Martell Bailey had 15 on Nov. 23, 2003.

• On the year, Kirk averages a team-leading 9.7 assists per game, tops in the Horizon League and fourth nationally. His 29 total assists are the fifth-most in the NCAA.

• As a team, the Flames are dishing out 17 assists per game to lead the Horizon League and rank 54th nationally.

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 was 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.

• The Flames improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2001-02 with a 66-50 win over Valparaiso. That 2001-02 team would go on to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.