The UIS men's basketball team returns to TRAC to begin GLVC play against UMSL on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
Illinois Springfield (3-2)
The Prairie Stars competed at the DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday and Wednesday, facing Central Missouri and Union University.
On Tuesday, UIS battled Central Missouri, getting off to a strong start with Khalil Ross leading the charge. However, a balanced offensive effort from the Mules helped them recover and seize control midway through the first half. Central Missouri went into the break with a 32-25 lead and extended it in the second half. Despite shooting well from the field, UIS struggled to match Central Missouri's fast-paced scoring and ultimately fell 72-58.
The next day, the Prairie Stars faced Union University in a back-and-forth contest early on. UIS managed to break away with a hot-shooting stretch in the final five minutes of the first half, taking a 44-35 lead into halftime. The Stars continued to push their advantage in the second half, extending their lead to 20 points as defensive pressure increased. Union made a late surge, but UIS held on for a 76-65 victory.
UIS is averaging 74.0 points per game, shooting 53.3% from the field and 48.5% from beyond the arc. The Prairie Stars also average 30.4 rebounds, 12.8 assists, and 4.4 steals per game, while shooting 68.2% from the free-throw line as a team.
Missouri - St. Louis (0-5)
The Tritons are still searching for their first win of the 2024-25 season after facing two ranked opponents at the McKendree DII Classic.
On Thursday, UMSL played No. 22 Lake Superior State. The Tritons started strong but struggled to maintain their lead. Both teams experienced cold shooting in the first half, with LSSU taking a slim 27-24 lead into the break. A strong second-half run by Lake Superior State stretched their advantage to 20 points. Despite a late push from UMSL, they were unable to close the gap, and LSSU secured a 59-46 win.
On Friday, UMSL squared off against No. 23 Alabama-Huntsville. The teams exchanged baskets early, but a 16-2 run from the Chargers gave them a commanding lead. UAH led 39-22 at halftime and extended their advantage further in the second half. The Tritons fought back, cutting the lead to nine points with 3:28 remaining, but were unable to make a final push, as Alabama-Huntsville held on for a 74-63 victory.
UMSL is averaging 58.2 points per game on 41.3% shooting from the field and 32.1% shooting from three-point range. The Tritons also average 28.6 rebounds, 10.2 assists, and 5.8 steals per game, while shooting 62.9% from the free-throw line as a team.
Fan Information
UIS is proud to support the Coats for Kids coat drive, a community initiative led by Green Family Stores, Springfield Eastside Pride, and NewsChannel 20. Since 2013, this program has provided thousands of warm coats to local children in need. Fans attending Saturday's game can contribute by donating a coat to receive free admission—one adult per coat donated—and help ensure every child has a warm coat this winter. Donated coats will be distributed to local schools.
As a token of appreciation, UIS will also be offering free popcorn to all attendees at Saturday's game.