Following a week off, UIC will take a break from Missouri Valley play Saturday.  The Flames will face Western Michigan in the first of four straight non-conference games.  Tipoff from Kalamazoo will be at 1:30 p.m. (Central) Saturday afternoon.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. The Voice of the Flames, Jonathan Hood, alongside Hall of Famer Kenny Williams, will have the call of the game on the Flames Network, available on UICFlames.com and via the link in the blue box above.
 
MATCHUP BREAKDOWN

• Saturday's contest will be the 9th in program history between the Flames and Broncos. The teams have not met since 2003, when Western Michigan eked out a 1-point win in the opening round of the NIT.
• The Broncos lead the all-time series, 5-3, and enter the contest at 3-6 following a win over Concordia Monday night.
• Lamar Norman Jr. is in the top-20 nationally in scoring, averaging 20.2 points per game. He is ninth in the nation, averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers per game.
• The Flames have excelled at defending the rim this season, ranking first in the Missouri Valley and 48th nationally with 4.7 blocks per game. Cameron Fens' 13 total blocks through nine games are fifth in the MVC.
• The Broncos are 26th in the NCAA in rebound margin. They average 8.2 boards more than their opponents per game, bouyed by an astounding +34 margin against Concordia on Monday.

 
OKANI DOUBLES UP

• Toby Okani recorded a double-double, his third of the season, in UIC's last game against Drake. He has grabbed 12 boards in each of the last two games, and had 13 points against the Bulldogs.
• In his first-ever appearance for the Flames, 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.
• Okani has added two more double-doubles in recent games, against Holy Cross and Drake. He had a career-high 20 points to match his career best with 13 rebounds against Holy Cross.

 
SECOND HALF WARRIORS

• After falling behind in the first half against Drake Saturday, the Flames may have been written off by many observers.  But the team flipped a switch in the second half and played some of their best basketball of the season.
• UIC scored 45 points in the second half in their first Valley road game, matching their season high in any half.
• The team shot 47% from the floor, and 50% on threes (7-14) in the second half.
• The Flames had a 50% offensive rebound rate and an overall rebounding advantage of 21-10 in the last 20 minutes.