INDIANAPOLIS - After an eight-day layoff for the holidays, IUPUI will return to the hardwood against Chicago State on Friday night to open Mid-Continent Conference play. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m. from The Jungle.

Chicago State holds a 10-9 lead in the all-time series, but the Jaguars have won seven of the past nine meetings between the schools and are 5-3 in Indianapolis all-time. The Jags are 3-4 the last seven years in Mid-Con openers. 

IUPUI is coming off a 53-45 loss at Vanderbilt last Thursday night, falling to 5-6 on the season. The Jags trimmed the Commodores' advantage to 50-45 with 57.9 seconds to play, but Shan Foster answered by hitting an off-balanced three from the right wing with the shot clock winding down to end IUPUI's comeback. Foster led Vandy with 12 points and the 'Dores improved to 8-1 on the season. 

IUPUI junior Matt Burks hit 5-of-12 from three-point range to lead all scorers with 15 points. Senior Brandon Cole added 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Jaguars enter Friday's game as the best defensive team in the Mid-Con, limiting opponents to just 66.1 points per game. The Jags are also the best free throw shooting team in the league, connecting at a 74.5 percent clip.

Last Thursday night in Nashville, the Jags got to the foul line just two times as there were only 19 fouls whistled against the two teams combined. IUPUI entered that game averaging 24.9 free throw attempts per game.

In an unrelated schedule note, the IUPUI game at Oakland scheduled for Jan. 4 has been moved up to a 7:00 p.m. tip. That game can be seen in the Indianapolis area on FOX Sports Midwest.