The UIS men's basketball team will host the Midwest Regional Crossover this weekend, playing two home games to kick off their 2024-25 season. On Saturday night, the Prairie Stars will face Division II newcomer Roosevelt at 8:00 p.m., followed by a matchup against Parkside on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. These non-conference games mark an exciting start to the season for UIS basketball.

Illinois Springfield

The UIS men's basketball team enters the 2024-25 season picked to finish 2nd in the GLVC preseason poll and has received national recognition in the NABC Division II Preseason Poll. Jack Weber returns for the Prairie Stars after earning Second Team All-GLVC honors in 2023-24. Notable returners include Max Kunnert, Khalil Ross, Isaiah Esker, and Evan Altman. Last season, UIS finished with an 18-13 overall record and an 11-9 record in conference play, securing sixth place in the GLVC and advancing to the GLVC Tournament for the third consecutive year. The Prairie Stars' season ended in the quarterfinals against Lewis. 

Roosevelt

The Lakers mark their inaugural Division II season picked to finish 11th in the GLIAC preseason poll. In the 2023-24 season, Roosevelt won their first regular season conference title as they posted a 25-5 overall record, with an 18-2 record in conference play. The Lakers advanced to the NAIA National Tournament, but lost their first round matchup against Shawnee State. 
 

Parkside

The Rangers begin the season ranked sixth in the GLIAC preseason poll. Notable returners for Parkside include Josiah Palmer (Second Team) and Nick Brown (All-Defensive Team). Last season, Parkside finished with a 13-16 overall record and an 8-10 conference mark, placing them sixth in the GLIAC. They came close to upsetting Ferris State in the quarterfinals but ultimately fell short.

Fan Information

The UIS men's basketball program is excited to welcome fans for their season opener on Saturday at 8 p.m., with pizza provided for the student section before the game. Students are encouraged to wear white and pack the stands for the white-out game!

Tickets: Season tickets are available for $150. Single-game tickets are $10 for general admission and $15 for reserved seating. Tickets can be purchased online via HomeTown Ticketing, in the HomeTown Fan App or at the gate, with free admission for UIS students, faculty, and staff with a valid Icard. 

Follow along: Games will be streamed on the GLVC Sports Network (GLVCSN) behind a paywall, and live statistics for all games will be available at uisprairiestars.com.

For more details, visit the Tournament Homepage and join us in supporting the Prairie Stars!