CHICAGO -- UIC returns home for the first time in over a month on Thursday, Jan. 20, when the Flames play host to Northern Kentucky. Tip-off inside Credit Union 1 Arena is slated for 7 p.m.

OPENING TIP
• The Flames return home having won three consecutive road games in a six-day span, picking up road victories at IUPUI, Milwaukee and Green Bay. UIC's win at Green Bay was the Flames' first win inside the Resch Center since Feb. 18, 2004 when the Flames knocked off the Phoenix by a 63-55 margin.
• Kevin Johnson picked up the first weekly honor of the season for UIC on Jan. 17 when he was named the Horizon League Player of the Week for his performance on the Flames' most recent roadtrip.
• Three Flames average in double figures, led by Damaria Franklin's team-leading 17.0 points per game. Kevin Johnson ranks second with 13.5 points per contest while Zion Griffin is third with 10.9 ppg.

MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
• UIC and Northern Kentucky are meeting for just the 14th time in program history, with the Norse owning a 10-3 advantage in the series history.
• Northern Kentucky will be making its first trip to Credit Union 1 Arena since Jan. 10, 2020 after both games last year were played in Highland Heights.
• Marques Warrick leads the NKU attack, averaging 13.9 points per game.

JOHNSON NAMED #HLMBB PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Kevin Johnson became the first UIC player to earn a weekly award this year when he was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 17.
• The guard averaged 20.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game over three contests, shooting 59% from the field, 47.1% from 3-point range and 88.2% from the free throw line.
• Johnson's week was highlighted by a season-high 28-point outburst at Milwaukee. In the game, Johnson scored 26 of his 28 points in the second half, going 9-for-10 from the field and 6-for-6 from beyond the arc in the second half.
• The graduate student also added a 17-point, six assists effort against IUPUI and a 16-point, 6-rebound game against Green Bay.

LIGHTS OUT SECOND HALF
• In UIC's 81-77 win over Milwaukee, the Flames shot 66.7% from the field in the second half to erase a seven-point halftime deficit.
• Kevin Johnson, limited to two points in the first half, scored 26 points in the final 20 minutes. Johnson went 9-for-10 from the field in the second period, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the 3-point line.
• Damaria Franklin, held to four first-half points, added 14 in the second half thanks to a 7-for-10 shooting effort from the field.
• The duo combined to go 16-for-20 (80%) from the field in the second half and scored 40 of UIC's 54 second-half points.

PICKED THE POCKET
• Kevin Johnson has racked up the steals during his now five-year career. Over the course of his career, Johnson has recorded 265 steals, the fifth-most among all active Division I players. Johnson's 2.01 steals per game ranks 14th among active players while his 2.20 assist-to-turnover ratio is 15th best among active players.
• Johnson has recorded at least one steal in 11 games this year, including a season-high three in UIC's win over IUPUI on Jan. 10.
• In UIC's 91-50 victory over Trinity Christian on Nov. 16, Jamie Ahale registered a career-high four steals.
• Damaria Franklin matched the effort with four steals against San Diego on Nov. 26.
• The four swipes are tied for the most by a Flames player under head coach Luke Yaklich.