CHICAGO – The UIC men's basketball team (9-11, 1-8 MVC) returns to home action this weekend, as it welcomes Northern Iowa (10-9, 6-3 MVC) to Credit Union 1 Arena Saturday afternoon.
 
MATCHUP BREAKDOWN

• UIC and Northern Iowa will play Saturday for the 22nd time, with the Flames looking to even the all-time series at 11 wins a piece. This will be the Panthers' first time back at UIC since 2008, which was also the last time the Flames beat UNI, an 84-77 victory on Nov. 19, 2008.
• Head coach Ben Jacobson's Panthers have a history of success in the Missouri Valley, winning the regular season title outright in 2021-22. The Panthers are battling near the top of the MVC standings in 2022-23, currently sitting in a tie for second place.
• The Panthers are led offensively by Bowen Born, who also leads the MVC in individual scoring, averaging just under 19 points per game.
• While the Flames are looking to stop their current six-game skid, the Panthers enter Saturday's contest winners of five of their last six, all Missouri Valley Conference contests.

 
HOME ON HARRISON STREET

• UIC still owns a winning record at Credit Union 1 Arena this season, winning five of the nine home games played so far.
• The Flames posted a three-game home winning streak in December, including their first-ever Missouri Valley Conference victory against Illinois State on Dec. 28.

 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

• The Flames average 12.45 assists per game this season, which ranks them seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• In terms of turnover margin, UIC ranks second in the MVC, averaging only 13.1 turnovers a game while turning it's opponents over 14.85 times per game, for an average margin of +1.75

 
CHICAGO YOUTH COMMUNITY DAY

• Saturday's game has been deemed "Chicago Youth Community Day," an initiative of UIC Athletics and the Baum Family Fund.
• UIC will welcome special guests to Saturday's game from various charitable organizations in the Chicago area.
• Members of the Baum Family Fund will be recognized during a special halftime ceremony.

 
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with The Voice of the Flames Jonathan Hood and Kenny Williams on the call. The Flames Network will also simulcast an audio-only stream of Hood and Williams, available via the link at the top of this release.