CHICAGO (November 10, 2022) - Just days removed from a thrilling win in its season opener, Loyola University Chicago (1-0) will clash with a familiar foe on Friday evening when it makes the short trip to the West Side to battle UIC at 7 p.m. inside Credit Union 1 Arena.

In search of their third 2-0 start in as many seasons, the Ramblers have averaged a robust 78.5 points per game in wins over the Flames in each of the last two campaigns while shooting at a sizzling 51.4 percent (55-for-107) mark from the field.  Loyola's average margin of victory during the aforementioned stretch has been 14.0 points.

Last Time Out
Sheldon Edwards knocked down a buzzer-beating jumper to force overtime as Loyola held off a game Fairleigh Dickinson squad, 88-82, this past Monday inside Gentile Arena.  Making his first appearance as a Rambler, Edwards poured in a team-high 19 points, while Tom Welch, who provided the crucial assist on Edwards' bucket to end regulation, posted his first career double-double (15 points, 15 rebounds).

Loyola/UIC – The Series
Crosstown rivals Loyola and UIC will matchup against one another for the 59th time on Friday evening on the West Side in a series that dates back to the 1985-86 season.  The Flames hold a slim 31-27 (.534) edge in the all-time series, but Loyola has been dominant of late, winning nine straight meetings.  UIC's last victory over the Maroon & Gold came back on January 16, 2013, as the Flames pulled out a 61-59 win when both programs were members of the Horizon League.

When the two city foes met last season at Gentile Arena, Loyola, which was paced by 22 points from Ryan Schwieger, used a backbreaking 24-7 second-half run to fend off UIC, 80-63.

Scouting UIC
Tabbed to finish 11th in its first season in the Missouri Valley Conference, UIC opened the season with an 82-48 rout of Trinity Christian on Monday night at Credit Union 1 Arena.  Led by head coach Luke Yaklich, who is now in his third year with the Flames, the Flames return only three letterwinners from last season's team that finished 14-16 overall (9-10 Horizon League).

Jace Carter, who paced UIC with 13 points in its season-opening triumph, is the Flames top returning scorer from a year ago.  The Titusville, Fla. native put up 8.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg en route to earning a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team.  Duquesne transfer Toby Okani also impressed against the Trolls earlier in the week, adding 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Up Next
Loyola heads south to Myrtle Beach, S.C. next week for the Myrtle Beach Invitational.  Tulsa will provide the opposition to the Ramblers in a quarterfinal-round matchup at 8:30 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, November 17.