THE SERIES BREAKDOWN

• This will be the fourth meeting in the series between UIC and Cincinnati, with the Bearcats holding a 2-1 edge (the teams split their two prior matchups since the Flames moved to the Division I level in 1981-82).
• The series is also even at 1-1 when playing in Cincinnati, with both of those previous contests played at historic Riverfront Coliseum.
• In their most recent encounter on Dec. 12, 1983, UIC came away with a 72-64 victory at Riverfront Coliseum.

• UIC is 37-39 (.487) all-time in season openers, including a 22-20 (.524) record in its Division I era (1981-82 to present).
• The Flames are 2-1 in season openers under head coach Luke Yaklich, including last year's 82-48 victory over Trinity Christian at Credit Union 1 Arena.
• This will mark the third time in Yaklich's four seasons at UIC the Flames will open on the road. In his debut game on Nov. 25, 2020, Yaklich led UIC to a 65-61 win at Northern Illinois. A year later, the Flames dropped a 64-54 season-opening decision at Dayton.
• Monday's game will be the first time UIC opens on the road at a Power Five opponent since the 2018-19 lidlifter, when the Flames fell at Notre Dame, 84-67 (also on Nov. 6) in the opening round of the Gotham Classic.

• UIC is aiming for its first win over a Power Five opponent since Dec. 1, 2012, when the Flames defeated Chicagoland foe Northwestern, 50-44 at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston.
• If one rightly includes the BIG EAST as a power conference in basketball circles, the last Flames' win over that group came on Dec. 14, 2016, when UIC toppled crosstown rival DePaul, 80-75, at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Lincoln Park.

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

• No fewer than 18 of UIC's 32 games last season were decided by single digits, with the Flames going 9-9 in those contests.
• UIC actually won six of its first seven single-digit games last season before injuries and illness, along with the Flames' challenging transition in their inaugural season in the Missouri Valley Conference, took their toll.
• Regardless, UIC remained extremely competitive in MVC play, including a stretch of six consecutive single-digit games from Jan. 21-Feb. 8 (and preceded by a narrow 10-point loss at Valparaiso).

• UIC has two starters and seven letterwinners returning this season, led by senior guard Toby Okani, who started every game and is the Flames' top returning scorer and rebounder from a season ago (11.0 ppg./7.1 rpg.).
• Last year was Okani's first at UIC and his numbers were career highs across the board, following two seasons at Duquesne.
• Thus, it was no surprise Okani was voted a 2023-24 preseason third-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection by the conference coaches, SIDs and media.

• 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).

• 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.

• UIC will tip off the home portion of its 2023-24 schedule at 7:30 p.m. (CT) Friday when it plays host to Little Rock at Credit Union 1 Arena. The game will air live on ESPN+ and the Flames Network.
• Friday's game will be the nightcap of a UIC athletics doubleheader at the arena, with the Flames' volleyball team taking on UNI at 4 p.m. (CT). Both contests are part of UIC's Homecoming celebration.
• Tickets for all UIC basketball games can be purchased online through Ticketmaster and UICFlames.com/Tickets, as well as through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office (312-413-UIC1) or by visiting the Credit Union 1 Arena box office on game night.