CHICAGO -- The UIC men's basketball team closes out a three-game homestand to open the regular season on Monday, Nov. 14, when the Flames play host to Jacksonville State.

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 dropped to 1-1 on the year following a hard-fought 70-63 defeat to Loyola Friday evening in the cross-town rivalry game. Tre Anderson scored a game-high 20 points while Jace Carter matched his career-high with 17 in the effort. Toby Okani added 10 to go along with five rebounds.
• The Flames have excelled at defending the rim this season, ranking second in the Missouri Valley and 11th nationally with 7.0 blocks per game. Cameron Fens' six total blocks through two games are the 17th-most in Division I basketball.

MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
• Monday's meeting will be the first-ever meeting between the Flames and Gamecocks.
• Jacksonville State enters the contest 1-0 on the year, cruising past Shorter University, 111-48, on Nov. 7.
• Skyelar Potter led the way with 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting while Clarence "Monzy" Jackson added 17 points and seven rebounds.
• Jacksonville State was picked to finish third in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll and Media Poll.
• Ray Harper is in his seventh season at the helm of the Jacksonville State program, owning a 120-76 record with the Gamecocks.

TURNOVER MACHINE
• Through two games, the Flames have forced their opponents to commit 22.5 turnovers per game.
• UIC is first in the Missouri valley and 16th nationally in the category.
• Against Loyola, the Flames forced the Ramblers to turn the ball over 25 times. Christian Jones was heavily involved with five steals, while Tre Anderson had four.

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.