The Illinois Springfield men's basketball team triumphed over Rockhurst, 81-73, in a closely contested battle at the Mason-Halpin Field House in Kansas City, Mo. The win improves the Prairie Stars' record to 9-8 overall and 4-5 in the GLVC, while the Hawks fall to 12-5 overall and 6-3 in the GLVC.
"Our guys really defended today," said head coach Matt Brock. "Evan Altman did a terrific job on their point guard, making it tough for him to get deep into the paint. Our sophomores, Khalil Ross and Britton Dutton, really stepped up and played well. It was a great road sweep for us!"
Game Summary
- The Prairie Stars attacked the paint early, leaning heavily on Jack Weber, but despite their efforts, Rockhurst outscored them in the opening minutes. The teams were evenly matched on the boards in the early going, but a few costly turnovers by UIS allowed Rockhurst to gain a seven-point lead.
- The Prairie Stars then orchestrated a 14-2 run, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Max Kunnert, to take a 29-28 lead. The three-point shooting battle intensified as Rockhurst answered with an 8-0 run to reclaim a four-point advantage. The first half concluded with a nearly two-minute scoring drought, leaving Rockhurst ahead, 33-32, at halftime.
- UIS grabbed the lead early in the second half, with Khalil Ross sinking a three-pointer, while Rockhurst missed their its three scoring attempts. The game continued as a seesaw battle with sporadic scoring runs and droughts shaping the clash of defenses. Despite falling behind by as many as eight points midway through the period, UIS managed to stay in it.
- The UIS underclassmen made a notable impact, including Britton Dutton, who hit a crucial three-pointer to give UIS the lead. Moments later, Khalil Ross executed a steal and layup, missing the and-1 but quickly redeemed himself with a dunk after a Max Kunnert steal. This sequence helped UIS extend their lead to seven points.
- Rockhurst fought back, narrowing the gap to three points, but Ross responded with another three-pointer to provide UIS with a more comfortable lead. Evan Altman sealed the win by sinking the final pair of free throws.
- UIS displayed efficiency in their three-point shooting, finishing the game at 70.6% from beyond the arc, while Rockhurst struggled, connecting on only 28.1% of their three-point attempts (9-32). Overall, UIS shot 49.1% from the field, compared to Rockhurst's 40.3%.
- Khalil Ross led the Prairie Stars with 21 points, shooting an impressive 5-6 from three-point range, while also contributing 6 rebounds. Max Kunnert and Jack Weber were close behind, each finishing with 18 points.
UIS returns to TRAC next week to host Missouri S&T on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Drury at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Around the GLVC
Illinois Springfield 81, Rockhurst 73
Upper Iowa 88, Quincy 78
Truman State 74, Lewis 72
Missouri S&T 88, Missouri-St. Louis 84
Drury 85, Maryville 71
McKendree 63, Southwest Baptist 46
Indianapolis 78, William Jewell 76 (OT)