CHICAGO – The UIC men's basketball team will open its 2021-22 season Thursday, Nov. 4, in an exhibition contest against the Illinois Tech. Tip-off inside Credit Union 1 Arena is slated for 7 p.m.
 
Second-year head coach Luke Yaklich returns to the bench and brings with him a balance of veterans and newcomers. The Flames bring back eight players from last year's team, led by Michael Diggins and Jamie Ahale, who took advantage of the NCAA's one-time rule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to return for an additional year of competition.
 
Eight of UIC's 16 players are new to the program this year, with five of the eight transferring to UIC from Division I institutions. Eleven of UIC's 16 players this year are juniors or older, giving Coach Yaklich one of the most veteran-led teams in program history. In addition to the five transfers, the Flames also welcome a trio of freshmen to the roster in Jaden Brownell, Jace Carter and Filip Skobalj.
 
Thursday's contest will be the first of 15 home games in which fans will have the opportunity to catch the Flames in action this year inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
The home opener during the regular season is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 16 versus Trinity Christian, while the non-conference slate also features highly-anticipated matchups with local foes DePaul (Dec. 14) and Northern Illinois (Dec. 19).
 
UIC will host all 11 foes from the Horizon League throughout the campaign. Two opponents - Oakland (Dec. 2), Detroit Mercy (Dec. 5) - will make visits during the season's first month, while the remainder will come in late December, January and February.
 
The Scarlett Hawks are led by former UIC men's basketball player, Terrence (T.J.) Gray. After sitting out the 2005-06 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Grey appeared in 30 games as a junior in his lone season of competition with the Flames. The Chicago native tied what was then the UIC single-season record for 3-point field goals with 90 while shooting 90% from the free throw line that season (34-for-38). Gray scored a career-best 22 points, netting six 3-pointers, in the Flames' win over Loyola on Jan. 13, 2007.
 
Illinois Tech opened its season on Oct. 30, defeating Roosevelt, 73-67, in an exhibition. Otis Reale led the way for the Scarlet Hawks with a game-high 24 points.