CHICAGO (November 19, 2021) - Loyola renews a long-standing rivalry with crosstown foe UIC Saturday afternoon as it concludes a season-opening, four-game homestand. The Ramblers have won their last 13 contests versus teams from the Chicago area since a 61-59 loss to UIC in 2012-13.

Since the turn of the century, Loyola has opened a season with four consecutive wins just three times - 2020-21, 2010-11 and 2005-06.

Loyola's 94.7 points per game scoring average ranks 11th in the nation through games of November 17. Should they maintain that pace for the entire season, the Ramblers would post the second-best, points-per-game average in program history, behind only the 1965-66 squad (97.5).

Gentile Arena has become one of the most difficult places in the country for opponents to play and the Ramblers bring a 25-game home-court winning streak, the fifth-longest active streak in NCAA Division I play, into Saturday's matchup with UIC. Loyola has won 32 of its last 37 (.865) nonconference games at home.

Chris Knight has been compared to former Rambler reserve Aundre Jackson, who was a key player on the Ramblers' 2017-18 Final Four squad. Through three games, Knight is averaging 10.0 ppg and shooting an unbelievable 87.5 percent (14-for-16) from the field. In Jackson's first three games as a Rambler in 2016-17, he tallied 12.7 ppg on 16-for-21 (.762) shooting. If Knight qualified to be ranked among the NCAA field goal percentage leaders, he would rank second in the nation (.875) through games of November 17. He has scored his 30 points this season in just 32 minutes of court time.

Loyola – UIC – The Series

Loyola and UIC are squaring off for the 58th time in a series that traces its roots to the 1985-86 campaign. Although they trail the all-time series, 31-26, the Ramblers have run off eight consecutive wins versus the Flames.

At home, Loyola is 16-11 against UIC and has captured each of the last seven contests at Gentile Arena since a 62-58 setback on February 27, 2009.

When the teams met at Credit Union 1 Arena on the Near West Side of town last December, Loyola, which shot 50 percent (8-for-16) from long range, got 22 points from Cameron Krutwig and 16 out of Marquise Kennedy in a 77-66 victory.

Scouting UIC

UIC has posted back-to-back wins, including an overtime decision over Valparaiso, since dropping its season opener at Dayton. Saturday's game in Rogers Park will be the Flames' third road tilt of the young season.

Coming off an easy 91-50 victory against Trinity Christian on Tuesday at Credit Union 1 Arena, UIC has split its two road games this year, falling at Dayton, 64-54, before taking down Valpo, 74-70, in overtime.

UIC is limiting opponents to 40.1 percent (71-for-177) shooting from the field and 25 percent (11-for-44) from three-point territory this season and is led by Tennessee Tech transfer Damaria Franklin, who delivers 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per outing.

Flames assistant coach Bill Wuczynski is a Chicago area native and had a three-season stint as an assistant coach at Loyola on Larry Farmer's staff from the 2001-02 through 2003-04 seasons.

Kevin Johnson, a graduate transfer from Nicholls State, is contributing 12.0 points and a team-high 8.0 assists per game.

Up Next

Loyola heads to Paradise Island, Bahamas to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis, November 24-26. The Ramblers open the tournament November 24 when first-year Loyola head coach Drew Valentine takes on his former boss and mentor, Tom Izzo, and Michigan State at 11 a.m. CT.