CHICAGO – The UIC men's basketball team will make its first appearance on the court this season Tuesday evening as the Flames will play host to Illinois Tech in an exhibition contest. Tip-off inside Credit Union 1 Arena is set for 7 p.m.
 
This will be the second year in a row the Flames have faced the Scarlet Hawks in exhibition action. Last year, the Flames jumped out to a commanding 38-6 lead and cruised the rest of the way en route to a 76-59 victory.
 
Entering his third year at the helm, head coach Luke Yaklich's squad features 2022 All-Freshman Team honoree Jace Carter and rising sophomore standout, Filip Skobalj. The duo joins a talented mix of incoming freshmen and highly touted transfers to round out the Flames' lineup.
 
Griffin Yaklich returns for his junior season while Jaden Brownell will look to make his collegiate debut this season after sitting out last season as a redshirt. Joining the Flames this season are a duo of transfers in Tre Anderson and Toby Okani. The Flames also welcome five freshman to the squad
 
Tuesday's contest will be the first of 16 home games in which fans will have the opportunity to catch the Flames in action this year inside Credit Union 1 Arena. The game will mark the lone exhibition contest on the schedule for the Flames, with the regular season set to get underway on Monday, Nov. 7 when the Flames host Trinity Christian. The Flames and Trolls met a season ago in a 91-50 UIC victory.
 
Later in the week, the Flames host Loyola on Friday, Nov. 11, marking the third consecutive year in which the Flames and Ramblers take the court. UIC rounds out its season-opening home stand on Monday, Nov. 14 against Jacksonville State in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. All four home games to open the season will tip off at 7 p.m. at Credit Union 1 Arena.