The UIS men's basketball team improved to 3-2 on the season with a 76-65 victory over Union on Wednesday afternoon at the DoubleTree Thanksgiving Classic in Springfield, Mo.
"We really defended the way we wanted to today," said coach Matt Brock. "Especially during the middle 30 minutes of the game, we were disciplined and made it very tough for them to get good shots."
Game Recap
- The game began as a tightly contested matchup before Union gained momentum with five consecutive free throws, building a six-point lead
- UIS stayed within reach, using timely three-point shooting to keep the game close
- Khalil Ross tied the game with a free throw with 5:45 remaining in the first half, and from that point, UIS took control
- The Prairie Stars ended the half on a strong run, shooting a blistering 61.5% from the field and heading into the break with a 44-35 lead
- UIS continued to dominate after halftime, pushing their lead to double digits early as Union struggled with their shooting
- UIS built a lead of as many as 20 points in the second half en route to a 76-65 victory
- Union mounted a late push, narrowing the deficit to seven points, but the Prairie Stars maintained control to secure the win
- UIS shot 55.6% from the field for the game, including 47.4% from beyond the arc. The Prairie Stars dominated the paint with a 38-20 scoring advantage and held a slight edge in rebounding, 33-30. The Prairie Stars' depth was on full display as the bench provided 27 points compared to Union's 11
- Max Kunnert led the Prairie Stars with a game-high 23 points on 9-13 shooting, including four three-pointers. Nate Shockey added 15 points and two steals off the bench, while Evan Altman notched a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Tye Banks contributed 10 points, highlighting a well-rounded offensive performance for UIS
Stats at a Glance
| UIS | UU | |
| Points: | 76 | 65 |
| Field Goals Made: | 30-54 (.556) | 23-59 (.390) |
| Three-Point Field Goals Made: | 9-19 (.474) | 7-20 (.350) |
| Free Throws Made: | 7-11 (.636) | 12-14 (.857) |
| Rebounds: | 33 | 30 |
| Assists: | 14 | 4 |
| Turnovers: | 14 | 10 |
UIS returns home on Saturday, Nov. 30, to begin conference play against the UMSL Tritons.