• This will mark the 61st meeting between UIC and Loyola, with the series deadlocked at 30-30. The Ramblers have also won the past 10 meetings in the series.
• Loyola holds a 17-11 lead in the series when the scene shifts to Gentile Arena and has won the last eight times the teams met in Rogers Park.
• UIC is seeking its first win over Loyola since Jan. 16, 2013 (a 61-59 victory at Credit Union 1 Arena) and its first triumph in Rogers Park since Feb. 27, 2009 (a 62-58 decision).

MORE ON THE SERIES

• As the overall series record would indicate, the UIC-Loyola rivalry has been among the most competitive in the 77-year history of Flames basketball.
• In fact, nearly two-thirds (39) of the 60 games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less, including six games that went to overtime.
• Last year's matchup proved to be no exception, with Loyola pulling out a 70-63 win at Credit Union 1 Arena in a game that saw neither side lead by more than nine points, the lead change hands seven times (with three ties) and the margin at just four points inside the final two minutes

LAST TIME OUT: LITTLE ROCK

• UIC led virtually wire-to-wire and by double digits for most of the second half to secure an 86-71 victory over Little Rock on Nov. 10 at Credit Union 1 Arena.
• Playing before a boisterous Homecoming crowd of 2,593 fans, the Flames turned in a balanced offensive performance with four players scoring in double figures, led by senior guard Isaiah Rivera, who scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Senior guard Toby Okani chipped in his second consecutive double-double (14 points/10 rebounds), while junior guard Ethan Pickett added 13 points and sophomore guard Steven Clay scored 12 points.
• UIC connected on 10-of-21 three-pointers (.476) and saw all 10 players that got into the game crack the scoring column.

WINNING WITH DEFENSE

• UIC head coach Luke Yaklich has developed a reputation for building tough, defensive-minded clubs throughout his career on the sidelines.
• In his three-plus seasons with the Flames, UIC is 11-0 when holding opponents to 60 points or fewer.

NEW FACES, NEW PLACES

• Along with its seven returnees, UIC welcomes nine newcomers to the fold this season, including six transfers (four from Division I schools).
• Among the new arrivals to Chicago's College Team are senior guard Isaiah Rivera (5.0 ppg., .397 3FG% in three years at Colorado State), graduate guard Marquise Kennedy (8.0 ppg. in four years at Loyola), junior guard Yusef Salih (5.9 ppg. in two years at Idaho) and sophomore guard Drew King (8.9 ppg. in one year at Houston Christian).

THE REIGN IN SPAIN

• UIC got an early jump on the 2023-24 season with a nine-day tour of Spain, winning all three games it played against local club teams in Barcelona and Madrid.
• The Flames also enjoyed a number of the famous local attractions during their trip, including Barcelona's legendary church, La Sagrada Familia, and popular shopping district, Las Ramblas.

CARLOS HARRIS SIGNS WITH UIC

• On Nov. 9, UIC announced point guard Carlos Harris (6-2, 180) has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Flames beginning in 2024-25.
• One of the top players in the Chicago Public League for Curie Metropolitan High School, Harris averaged 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals per game last season in helping the Condors to a 20-11 record.
• Harris is a three-star athlete who is the No. 35 point guard in the country and the No. 13 player in the state of Illinois in the Class of 2024.

UP NEXT: AURORA

• UIC returns home on Sunday for a 4 p.m. (CT) contest against Aurora at Credit Union 1 Arena. The game will be televised live on ESPN+ and, as always, the live Flames Network radio broadcast can be heard free of charge on UICFlames.com.
• The Aurora game will be the nightcap of a UIC basketball doubleheader at Credit Union 1 Arena on Sunday. The Flames' women's basketball team, which is off to a 2-1 start this season, opens the afternoon with a 1 p.m. (CT) matinee against IUPUI.
• Tickets for all UIC basketball home games may be purchased online through Ticketmaster and UICFlames.com/Tickets, by calling the UIC Athletics Ticket Office (312-413-UIC1) or visiting the Credit Union 1 Arena box office on game night.