CHICAGO -- The eighth-seeded UIC men's basketball team looks to secure a spot in the semifinals of the Horizon League Basketball Championship on Thursday, March 3, as the Flames hit the road to take on second-seeded Purdue Fort Wayne. Tip-off inside Memorial Coliseum is set for 7 p.m. (ET).

OPENING TIP
•    Five Flames scored in double figures, led by Kevin Johnson's game-high 21 points as the Flames beat No. 9 Milwaukee, 80-69, Tuesday evening the opening round of the Horizon League Championship. UIC used a 15-4 run to end the first half to build a seven-point lead heading into the break, and extended the advantage to as many as 15 in the second half, before holding off a late Panther rally.
•    Damaria Franklin and Jace Carter were recognized by the Horizon League coaches on Monday (Feb. 28) as the League announced its annual award winners. Franklin was named All-League Third Team while Carter was selected to the All-Freshman Team. Carter is the first player to earn All-Freshman Team honors since Tarkus Ferguson and Dominique Matthews in 2016-17.
•    Kevin Johnson and Jalen Warren rank third and sixth, respectively, in assist-to-turnover ratio among all Horizon League players. Johnson's rate is 2.21 with Warren at 1.88.

MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
•    UIC is looking to avenge a 73-66 defeat at Purdue Fort Wayne on Feb. 12 in the only matchup this season between the teams.
•    Purdue Fort Wayne shared the regular season title, with head coach Jon Coffman being named the Coach of the Year in the league.

MIX IT UP
•    The Flames haven't been afraid to mix up their starting lineup this year, using a total of 13 different lineups through 29 games, including last time out at Milwaukee.
•    UIC went through a seven-game stretch where the team deployed seven different starting lineups.

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
•    UIC has a knack for playing close games and has succeeded with the game on the line, owning an 9-3 record in games decided by five points or less.
•    The Flames picked up their ninth win by five points or less against Green Bay, with the Flames using a key 15-1 second-half run to pick up the 81-77 victory.
•    UIC's lone wins by more than five points came against Robert Morris (96-88 (OT)), Green Bay (80-63) and Trinity Christian (91-50).

SWAT IT AWAY
•    Michael Diggins has made life at the rim difficult for opposing players as the UIC veteran ranks fourth in the Horizon League with 1.23 blocks per game. Diggins has 32 total blocks on the season.
•    Diggins has swatted away a season high four shots on the year in UIC's 81-77 victory over Green Bay on Feb. 24.
•    As a team, UIC leads the league with 3.8 blocks per game. The team has registered 110 blocks this year, third-most in the conference. Milwaukee is the current League leader with 119.