NASHVILLE, TENN. – The UIC men's basketball team (10-16, 2-13 MVC) will round out it's two-game road trip Saturday, as it travels to Nashville, Tenn. to take on Belmont (17-9, 10-5 MVC). Tip-off from the Curb Event Center is set for 1:00 p.m. CT.
 
MATCHUP BREAKDOWN

• The Flames and Bruins will square off for the second time this season, and also the second time in series history this weekend. The Bruins got the better of UIC in a game at Credit Union 1 Arena on Jan. 4, besting the Flames 77-71. Ben Sheppard led the way for the Bruins as he has much of the season, scoring 19 points to lead Belmont to the six-point victory.
• Reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Ben Sheppard scored a career-high in points against Missouri State on Feb. 1, netting 35 of his team's 59 points in a two-point loss.

 
DOUBLE DIGIT MACHINE

• UIC's Jace Carter has scored in double figures in 22 games in the 2022-23 season, including the last nine consecutive games, dating back to Jan. 10 against Drake.
• The sophomore has already tallied 29 career games scoring in double figures, including seven of his 17 starts in 2021-22.

 
BLOCK PARTY

• UIC ranks first in the Missouri Valley Conference with 123 blocked shots this season, for an average of 4.73 per game.
• Toby Okani leads the Flames in blocked shots, averaging over two blocks per game.

 
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

• The Flames average 12.77 assists per game this season, which ranks them eighth in the MVC.
• In terms of turnover margin, the Flames used a 21-turnover effort on the road against Southern Illinois to jump from sixth to first in the MVC, averaging only 13.1 turnovers a game while turning it's opponents over 14.7 times per game, for an average margin of +1.6

 
Saturday's road came can be seen live on ESPN3, and an audio broadcast is also available on the Flames Network, by using the blue button at the top of this story, or the "Listen" button on the men's basketball schedule. The Voice of the Flames Jonathan Hood will call all the action, joined by Flames Hall of Famer Kenny Williams as an analyst.