CHICAGO -- The UIC men's basketball team renews its long-standing rivalry with Loyola on Friday, Nov. 11, when the Flames and Ramblers meet inside Credit Union 1 Arena.

OPENING TIP
• Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Jonathan Hood and Kenny Williams will be on the call. Friday's game will also be available to listen to on the UIC Network, via uicflames.com.
• The Flames opened the season on Monday, Nov. 7, defeating Trinity Christian by an 82-48 margin. Three Flames scored in double figures in the contest, led by Jace Carter's game-high 13 points. Toby Okani recorded his first collegiate double-double with 11 points and a career-best 13 rebounds.
• Fridays's game is the second of three consecutive home games to open the regular season for the Flames. Following Friday's contest, the Flames will remain at home to take on Jacksonville State on Monday, Nov. 14.

MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
• Friday's meeting will be the 60th all-time meeting between UIC and Loyola. Dating back to 1947, the long-time conference rivals have met in each of the last two seasons.
• UIC owns a slim 30-29 lead in the series history, but the Ramblers have been on top as of late, winning the last nine contests.
• Loyola also enters the game with a 1-0 record, needing overtime to defeat Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 7. Trailing by two with 1.8 to play, Loyola got the buzzer-beater to fall to send the game to overtime where the Ramblers outscored the Knights, 11-5, to secure the victory.

OKANI COLLECTS FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE
• In his first-ever appearance for the Flames, Toby Okani recorded his first career double-double.
• The junior finished the night with 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, his second career game with 10 or more boards.
• A native of Orange, New Jersey, Okani was extremely efficient from the floor, finishing 4-for-5 from the field.

SWAT IT AWAY
• The Flames protected the rim all night against the Trolls, finishing with 10 blocks as a team.
• The 10 rejections marked the most by a UIC team under head coach Luke Yaklich.
• Individually, freshman Cameron Fens led the way with four blocks on his own while Toby Okani added a pair and four other players added one each.
• The effort at the rim was aided by a 53-40 edge in rebounding. The 53 rebounds by UIC were the most by the Flames in a game since the team hauled in 60 against Green Bay on Feb. 16, 2018.

PICKED THE POCKET
• UIC doubled up Trinity Christian in steals Monday night, picking up 12 steals to the Trolls' six.
• Nearly half of those UIC steals came from freshman Jalen Jackson, who tallied five in a team-high 29 minutes of action.