CHICAGO – The UIC and Loyola men's basketball programs have agreed to a new four-year series through the 2023-24 season. The series will tip off this year, with the Flames playing host to the Ramblers on Sunday, Dec. 13 inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
"We are really excited about the opportunity to begin this four-year series against Loyola," said UIC Head Coach Luke Yaklich. "We have great respect for the program that Coach Moser has built and look forward to competing against them. This is a great series for UIC and Loyola fans to have, a city rivalry that all basketball fans throughout Chicago can look forward to attending in the future."
 
The four-year series will alternate venues every year, with the Flames traveling to Rogers Park in 2021 and 2023 while playing host to Loyola in the 2022-23 season. The two programs had played each other every year since 1994 before the series took a one-year break last season. This year's meeting will be the 57^th all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Flames owning a 31-25 advantage over the Ramblers.
 
The Flames are looking to start the season 4-0 for the first time since the 1990-91 squad began the year 7-0 on Saturday, Dec. 5 when UIC travels to take on Ball State. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. (CT) on ESPN3.