CHICAGO --  UIC wraps up its first Horizon League weekend of the year on Sunday, Dec. 5 as the Flames play host to Detroit Mercy. Tip-off inside Credit Union 1 Arena is slated for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

OPENING TIP
• The Flames dropped its Horizon League opener on Thursday, falling to Oakland by a 81-77 margin at home. UIC erased a 20-point deficit throughout the second half, getting within three with just under a minute left in regulation. The Flames had a look at a game-tying three in the closing seconds, but the shot hit iron and Oakland closed out the game.
• Kevin Johnson ranks second in the Horizon League with 6.7 assists per game, while his game-high nine assists in UIC's victory over Valpo are the second-highest single-game assist total in the League so far this season. Johnson ranks seventh nationally in assists per game.

MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
• UIC and Oakland will be meeting for the 55th time in program history Sunday afternoon.
• The Titans own a 32-22 advantage in the series history but the two teams did not meet a season ago. The Flames and Titans split the season series back in 2019-20, with both teams defending their home court.
• Detroit Mercy is led by Mike Davis, with his son, Antoine, leading the League in scoring with 23 points per game.
• Detroit won its Horizon League opener, defeating IUPUI by a 69-45 margin.

DISH IT OUT
• UIC newcomer Kevin Johnson has led UIC's offense as the point guard this season, handing out a team-leading 47 assists while only turning the ball over 20 times. 
• Johnson's 47 total assists and 6.7 assists per game are both second in the Horizon League while his 6.7 assists per contest ranks eighth 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).
• As a team, the Flames have 114 assists on the year, the most in the Horizon League.

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 second most by any Horizon League player in a game this year.
• Damaria Franklin matched the effort with four steals against San Diego on Nov. 26.

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