CHICAGO -- UIC plays for city bragging rights on Saturday, Nov. 20, as the Flames make the quick trip up to Rogers Park to take on Loyola. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. on NBC Sports Chicago and ESPN+.

OPENING TIP
• The Flames picked up their second consecutive victory with a dominating 91-50 win over Trinity Christian on Tuesday, Nov. 16. The 91 points are the most for UIC under Luke Yaklich while the 41-point margin of victory came exactly four years to the day after UIC's last win by 40 or more points (vs. Delaware State, 95-55, on Nov. 16, 2017).
• Kevin Johnson leads the Horizon League with 8.0 assists per game, while his game-high nine assists in UIC's victory over Valpo are the highest single-game assist total in the League so far this season. Johnson ranks seventh nationally in assists per game and sixth in total assists (24).

MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
• UIC and Loyola will continue their storied rivalry, meeting for the 58th time in series history Saturday.
• The Flames lead the all-time series, 31-26, but the Ramblers have won the last eight contests.
• Loyola enters the contest with a 3-0 record under first-year head coach Drew Valentine.
• Renewing their rivalry last season, Loyola picked up a 77-66 at Credit Union 1 Arena on Dec. 13. Michael Diggins fell a rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds.

DISH IT OUT
• UIC newcomer Kevin Johnson has run the offense to near perfection this season, handing out a team-leading 24 assists while only turning the ball over nine times. 
• Johnson's 24 total assists and 8.0 assists per game are both tops in the Horizon League while his eight assists per contest ranks seventh nationally.
• Johnson's nine assists in UIC's win over Valparaiso are the second-most in a game by any Horizon League player this year. 
• UIC dished out a season-high 28 assists in its 91-50 win over Trinity Christian on Nov. 16. The 28 helpers are the most under Luke Yaklich and were just three shy of matching the program record for most assists in a game (31, twice, last vs. Northeastern Illinois on Dec. 9, 1987).

PICKED THE POCKET
• In UIC's 91-50 victory over Trinity Christian, Jamie Ahale registered a career-high four steals.
• The four swipes are the most by and Flames player under head coach Luke Yaklich.
• Ahale's four steals are tied for the most by any Horizon League player in a game this year (Broc Finstuen, Cleveland State).

SWAT IT AWAY
• Michael Diggins has made life at the rim difficult for opposing players as the UIC veteran ranks tied for first in the Horizon League with four blocks on the year. 
• Three of Diggins' four blocks came in UIC's 74-70 victory over Valparaiso on Nov. 13.