THE SERIES BREAKDOWN

• UIC and Little Rock will be meeting for the first time on the hardwood Friday night.
• The Trojans are one of at least two first-time opponents the Flames will face during the non-conference schedule. UIC will meet Middle Tennessee for the first time in the teams' opener at the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship on Nov. 24 in Nassau, Bahamas.
• Of the other six teams in the Bahamas tournament, three (Delaware, Kansas City, UNCG) would be first-time opponents for UIC.

STARTING OFF RIGHT

• UIC is 55-21 (.724) all-time in home openers, including a 34-8 (.810) record in its Division I era (1981-82 to present).
• The Flames have won their last seven home openers, a streak that began with the 2016-17 season.
• UIC is 3-0 in home openers under head coach Luke Yaklich, including an 82-48 win over Trinity Christian to start last year's home slate.
• Even the Flames' rare losses in home openers have been extremely close, with the past five setbacks all decided by five points or fewer (four by one possession) — 2015-16 (San Francisco 78-75), 2013-14 (Drake 61-59), 2005-06 (St. Xavier 74-73), 2004-05 (#3 Georgia Tech 60-59) and 1996-97 (Illinois 68-63).

LAST TIME OUT: CINCINNATI

• UIC gave Cincinnati all it could handle in Monday's season opener at Fifth Third Arena before the Bearcats pulled away late for a 69-58 win.
• The Flames led on several occasions during the first half, building their edge to as many as five points.
• After Cincinnati moved in front, UIC kept pace with its Power Five opponent and was within single digits with less than nine minutes to play.
• Senior guard Toby Okani posted game highs of 20 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks and three assists, recording his fifth career double-double and fourth 20-point outing.

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 Thursday, 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: LOYOLA

• UIC renews its crosstown rivalry with Loyola next Tuesday, Nov. 14, when the Flames travel to Rogers Park for a 7 p.m. (CT) tipoff against the Ramblers at Gentile Arena. The game will be televised live locally on NBC Sports Chicago and, as always, the live Flames Network radio broadcast can be heard free of charge on UICFlames.com.
• Tuesday's matchup will be the 61st meeting in the Chicagoland series, which is deadlocked at 30 wins apiece. UIC is seeking its first victory over Loyola since 2013 and its first in Rogers Park since 2009.
• 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.