CHICAGO (Dec. 30, 2024) – UIC sophomore forward Sasa Ciani (Nova Gorica, Slovenia/Koder School/Xavier) has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week following his standout performance in the Flames' 73-67 victory over Illinois State on Sunday afternoon, the conference announced Monday.
Ciani was a force for UIC (8-4, 1-1 MVC) in the Flames' comeback win, scoring a career-high 16 points, with 14 of those coming in the second half. His timely scoring surge helped UIC erase a 12-point deficit and ultimately secure the crucial MVC win on the road at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. In addition to his scoring, Ciani was a dominant presence on the glass, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds.
The sophomore's impressive second-half performance included several key baskets that sparked the Flames' offensive run, including a stretch where he scored eight points in a three-minute span. Ciani's efforts helped UIC finish the game on a 22-10 run, overcoming a strong Illinois State team and securing a pivotal victory in the MVC standings.
UIC will look to build on this momentum as they return home for a matchup with Drake (12-0, 2-0 MVC) on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 2Â p.m. (CT) at Credit Union 1 Arena. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
UIC basketball season and single-game tickets are available through Ticketmaster (Men's Basketball or Women's Basketball), UICFlames.com/Tickets, or by contacting the UIC Athletics Ticket Office at (312) 413-UIC1 (8421) or athleticsticketing@uic.edu. UIC students are admitted free for all Flames' home games.
For more information on UIC men's and women's basketball, fans can visit UICFlames.com or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB, @UIC_WBB, and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb, @uic_wbb, and @uicflames).
