ST. LOUIS (Oct. 17, 2023) – UIC senior guard Toby Okani (Orange, N.J./Cushing Academy (Mass.)) was named to the 2023-24 Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Third Team, it was announced Tuesday at the start of the annual MVC Basketball Tipoff in St. Louis.
 
Okani is the Flames' top returning scorer, rebounder and shot blocker (11.0 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 1.2 bpg.), ranking third in the MVC in blocks and fifth in rebounding last year. The New Jersey product also placed third in the conference in defensive rebounds (5.5 per game) a season ago. During Valley play, he ranked third in blocks (1.3 bpg.) and sixth in rebounding (7.2 rpg.).
 
One of UIC's two returning starters, Okani finished the 2022-23 campaign with four double-doubles, three 20-point games and six double-digit rebounding contests. He also scored in double figures 18 times, including a career-high 29 points on Jan. 17, 2023, at Valparaiso.
 
Along with the preseason all-conference teams, the MVC released its preseason poll on Tuesday, with UIC selected to finish 10^th in the conference this year. The poll and the preseason all-conference teams were chosen through a vote of the Valley's head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
 
Season tickets, flex plans and single-game tickets for the 2023-24 UIC men's basketball season are on sale now by going online to Ticketmaster or UICFlames.com/Tickets, or by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office at (312) 413-UIC1 (8421).
 
The Flames tip off their season Oct. 31 with a 7 p.m. (CT) exhibition game against Clayton State at Credit Union 1 Arena (tickets for that specific game can be purchased HERE). After opening the regular season on the road at Cincinnati on Nov. 6 (8 p.m. CT), UIC will begin the home portion of its 2023-24 schedule on Nov. 10 with a 7:30 p.m. (CT) matchup against Little Rock (tickets for that specific game can be purchased HERE) — that game will be the nightcap of a doubleheader at Credit Union 1 Arena that will also feature the Flames' volleyball team playing host to Northern Iowa at 4 p.m., with both contests part of UIC's annual Homecoming activities.
 
UIC will debut a talented roster in 2023-24, including nine new players and seven significant returners. A pair of starters — Okani (11.0 ppg., 7.1 rpg.) and junior forward Filip Skobalj (7.7 ppg., team-high 61 three-pointers) — headline the returning Flames, while graduate student guard (and Chicago native) Marquise Kennedy and senior guard Isaiah Rivera lead a dynamic incoming class that features six transfers.
 
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through Twitter (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb and @uicflames).