CHICAGO (Aug. 21, 2026) – The UIC men's basketball program announced Friday it will play a marquee exhibition against sister school Illinois on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Tickets are now on sale for this preseason matchup, with the tipoff time, broadcast coverage and additional details to be announced at a later date.
 
"Any time you have the opportunity to compete against a program like Illinois, it's special, and I know our team is excited for this experience," said third-year UIC head coach Rob Ehsan. "To be able to play this game in our home state and against one of the premier programs in the country makes it even more special. Most importantly, it will give us a chance to see where we are early in the season, compete at a high level and continue to build the identity we want this team to have. We're look forward to the challenge, and I'm confident our guys will be ready to represent UIC and Chicago on that stage."
 
This will be the first time the Flames and Fighting Illini meet on the hardwood since Dec. 12, 2015, when Illinois edged UIC, 83-79 at the United Center in Chicago. The Fighting Illini advanced to last year's NCAA Final Four and as such, it will mark UIC's first matchup against a returning Final Four participant since Nov. 22, 2004, when the Flames dropped a last-second 60-59 decision to reigning national runner-up Georgia Tech at Credit Union 1 Arena (then known as the UIC Pavilion).
 
UIC is coming off a 19-win season and a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference, capped off by a trip to the 2026 NIT (National Invitation Tournament), the school's first berth in that elite event since 2003, and the Flames' first-ever appearance in the MVC Tournament championship game. UIC also posted its highest overall KenPom rating since 2004 (No. 110) and highest defensive efficiency mark since 2008 (No. 91), along with its highest-ever NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking at No. 115. What's more, during Ehsan's first two years at UIC, the Flames have collected eight Quad 1 & 2 wins, the second-most in the MVC, as well as six wins over teams ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll (four against top-10 squads).
 
Along with a sizable group of newcomers, UIC returns numerous key contributors this fall, including 2026 All-MVC Freshman Team guard Andy Johnson and two other rising young standouts who developed significantly during their freshman years in guard Rashund Washington Jr. and forward Jayce Nathaniel. The Flames will also benefit from critical veteran leadership through a pair of senior starters in guard Ahmad Henderson II and guard/forward Mekhi Lowery.

Season ticket packages for the 2026-27 Flames' men's basketball campaign are now on sale through the UIC Athletics Ticket Office, which can be reached by phone (312.413.8421) or e-mail (athleticsticketing@uic.edu).
 
For more information on UIC men's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_MBB and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_mbb and @uicflames).