After starting 2025 on the road, the UIS men's basketball team is back at TRAC for two key GLVC matchups this week. The Prairie Stars are set to play on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m. against Truman State, followed by a 3:00 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 11, against Quincy.

Illinois Springfield (6-7, 1-4 GLVC)
The Prairie Stars are coming off a one-point loss to Indianapolis on Sunday, continuing their hunt for a second GLVC win. In their recent outing, UIS struggled early, allowing Indianapolis to capitalize on turnovers and build a lead with strong three-point shooting. Despite a valiant comeback led by Max Kunnert and Evan Altman in the second half, UIS fell just short, 80-79.

The UIS offense has shown resilience, averaging 75.2 points per game while holding opponents to 74.3. Max Kunnert leads the team with 15.5 points per game, supported by strong contributions from Jack Weber, Evan Altman, and Khalil Ross, all averaging in double figures. UIS is currently ranked No. 17 in NCAA DII for field goal percentage, shooting an impressive 49.78%.

Truman State (7-5, 1-3 GLVC)
The Bulldogs have also secured just one GLVC win this season, defeating Drury 78-77 in early December. This victory sparked a three-game winning streak before the holiday break. However, Truman State resumed play in January with a loss to No. 20-ranked Missouri S&T.

In their game against the Miners, the Bulldogs had a rough start, making only two of their first 13 field goal attempts. Despite this, they managed to close the gap to six points at halftime, trailing 32-26. Truman briefly led early in the second half, but Missouri S&T's three-point shooting helped them regain control. In the final moments, Xavier Hall's three-pointer and Landon Eiland's free throws kept the Bulldogs close, but they ultimately fell 73-70.

Truman State's scoring is balanced, with key contributions from Xavier Hall, Kobi Williams, and Trey Shearer. The Bulldogs shoot 47.5% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range.

Quincy (6-6, 1-3 GLVC) 
Quincy emerged victorious in two non-conference games at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home Classic in mid-December before returning from the break to a narrow one-point defeat against GLVC opponent Lincoln on Jan. 3. The Hawks built a strong nine-point lead within the first five minutes, bolstered by three-pointers from Mason Wujek, Ethyn Brown, and Max Booher. Lincoln fought back and took a 38-34 halftime lead. Despite a late rally, including a key four-point play by El Sieger, Quincy fell short. Sieger led the team with 22 points, while Ethyn Brown added 11 points and seven assists.

Quincy will face Indianapolis on Thursday before heading to Springfield on Saturday. Max Booher leads the Hawks with an average of 14.2 points per game and ranks first in NCAA Division II with a 56.4% shooting percentage from three-point range on 55 attempts. El Sieger, who has scored a total of 153 points this season, averages 12.8 points per game off the bench. The team shoots 45.1% from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc.

Game Promotions
Special Olympics Night (1/9) – Join us for a fun-filled evening as UIS partners with Special Olympics Illinois! We're thrilled to host this special event at TRAC, celebrating inclusion and the positive impact of sport.

BoS Rivalry Cup & Youth Day (1/11) – Don't miss the action as the Prairie Stars face off against the Quincy Hawks in the exciting BoS Cup Rivalry! Local youth groups, including UIS basketball campers, are invited to experience the energy of these thrilling matchups. The BoS Cup, a rivalry tradition that started in the 2000s, was renewed with new trophies in 2023-24, and UIS currently holds both the men's and women's titles. The trophy presentations will take place on-court immediately following each game on Saturday.

Follow Along
Both games will be streamed live on the GLVC Sports Network, and fans can track live statistics online.