Saturday, November 29th, 8:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: UIC Pavilion (8,000) -- Chicago, Illinois. Television: None. Home Record: CMU 1-1, UIC 0-0. Away Record: CMU 1-1, UIC 1-1. Neutral Record: CMU 0-0, UIC 1-1. Conference Record: CMU 0-0, UIC 0-0. Series Record: Central Michigan leads, 3-2.

GAME NOTES: Ernie Zeigler leads his Central Michigan Chippewas into action against Jimmy Collins' Illinois-Chicago Flames in a non-conference tilt this evening. Central Michigan carried a two-game losing skid into last Saturday's game against Wright State, and the Chippewas showed a great deal of heart to outlast the Raiders in overtime by a 70-68 final. CMU is now 2-2 on the season and hopes to build a solid non-league record before the Mid-American Conference season begins. As for Illinois-Chicago, it beat Howard on the road by a 68-54 final on Tuesday to even its record at 2-2. The Flames are members of the Horizon League, and both of their losses this season have come by narrow margins. Central Michigan owns a 3-2 series edge over Illinois-Chicago, but the Flames have beaten the Chippewas in each of the last two seasons.

Jeremy Allen played well for Central Michigan in the most recent outing against Wright State, as he was on the floor for 42 minutes and finished with 22 points. Chris Kellermann contributed 18 points from his center position before fouling out, and Jacolby Hardiman finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Chippewas overcame disadvantages in both rebounding and points from the foul line in large part because they were able to limit the Raiders to 37.7 percent shooting from the floor. Kellerman is the team's leading scorer through the first four games of the season, as he is averaging 17.0 ppg to go along with 6.5 rpg. The center is a tremendous three-point shooter and is accurate from the foul line as well. Allen checks in with 15.3 ppg, and that duo will be counted on heavily today.

There are three players averaging double figures in scoring for Illinois- Chicago through the first four games of this season. Josh Mayo leads the team with 18.8 ppg, and he is dishing out 3.3 apg as well. Rebo Kreps checks in with 13.0 ppg, and Scott VanderMeer adds 12.0 ppg and 7.8 rpg. In the double- digit win over Howard last time out, UIC hit 15-of-17 free throws and forced 21 turnovers. Kreps and VanderMeer had 13 points apiece in that tilt, and VanderMeer also ripped down 12 boards to go along with five blocks. Mayo tallied 12 points, while Tori Boyd pitched in 10 points off the bench.

Give the edge to the home team tonight, as the Flames will record their third victory over the Chippewas in as many seasons.

Predicted Outcome

Illinois-Chicago 70, Central Michigan 63