The Illinois Springfield men's basketball team was defeated by Central Missouri, 72-58, in a non-conference contest in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday afternoon.
Game Recap
- The Prairie Stars came out strong, racing to a quick 9-0 lead, with seven of those points coming from Khalil Ross. However, Central Missouri responded swiftly, coming back to trail 9-8
- UCM was able to string together several runs throughout the first half, with DeAirius Barker leading the charge with three three-pointers
- Despite continued efforts from Khalil Ross and Evan Altman, who hit a key three of his own, UIS struggled to maintain their early momentum. By halftime, UCM had taken control with a 32-25 lead
- In the second half, UIS continued to battle. Ross and Altman kept the team in the game with key baskets, but UCM's balanced offense helped extend their lead to 52-41 midway through the period
- While the Prairie Stars played well, particularly with their inside scoring and rebounding, UCM's perimeter shooting and defensive intensity proved to be too much
- The Mules outscored UIS 40-33 in the second half, ultimately securing a 72-58 win
- Khalil Ross led the way with 21 points and 4 rebounds, while Evan Altman added 13 points and 6 rebounds and Max Kunnert chipped in 9 points and 5 rebounds
| UIS | UCM | |
| Points: | 58 | 72 |
| Field Goals Made: | 21-41 (.512) | 19-44 (.432) |
| Three-Point Field Goals Made: | 6-11 (.545) | 10-21 (.476) |
| Free Throws Made: | 10-15 (.667) | 24-27 (.889) |
| Rebounds: | 19 | 25 |
| Assists: | 11 | 8 |
| Turnovers: | 15 | 13 |
Up Next
The UIS Prairie Stars will take on the Union Bulldogs tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. at the DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic.