The UIS men's basketball team will wrap up a three-game home stretch on Thursday, hosting Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. at TRAC.
Illinois Springfield (11-12, 6-9 GLVC)
The Prairie Stars are coming off a hard-fought 79-75 loss to McKendree last Thursday, despite a career-high 31 points from Jack Weber. UIS was forced to rely on its interior scoring as McKendree's strong perimeter shooting created separation. The Bearcats built a double-digit lead early in the second half, and although the Prairie Stars responded with a 13-3 run, they were unable to complete the comeback.
UIS rebounded with a 74-70 victory over Maryville, led by a career-high 22 points from Springfield native Tye Banks. The Prairie Stars held a 41-36 halftime lead before Maryville surged ahead with a strong presence in the paint. Down the stretch, clutch three-pointers kept the game close, but UIS found ways to capitalize on key possessions and secured a four-point win to sweep the season series against the Saints.
Max Kunnert leads UIS in scoring with 14.3 points per game and is closing in on the program's record for career three-pointers. Jack Weber follows closely with 12.8 points per game. Isaiah Esker and Colin Schuler have also made key contributions off the bench lately.
As a team, UIS ranks No. 17 in NCAA Division II in three-point shooting percentage (.383) and No. 21 in field goal percentage (.490).
Indianapolis (13-10, 7-8 GLVC)
The Greyhounds split their games last week, edging Maryville 81-80 before suffering a 71-70 loss to Missouri-St. Louis on senior day.
Against Maryville, UIndy was led by a career-high 21 points from Lavonte Harris. Despite trailing 45-38 at halftime, Maryville outscored UIndy 42-36 in the second half, but the Greyhounds' .417 three-point shooting helped them hold on for the win. Free throws nearly proved costly, as UIndy made just 14-of-25 from the line.
In the 71-70 loss to UMSL, the Greyhounds fell short on a last-second buzzer-beater attempt. UMSL controlled the first half with a 46-40 lead, and although UIndy had a better second half (30-25), it was not enough to overcome the deficit. The loss marked UIndy's fourth defeat by three points or fewer this season.
The Greyhounds average 77.5 points per game, led by Dashawn Jackson (15.4) and Broady Whitaker (14.4). UIndy shoots .417 from the field and .331 from beyond the arc.
GLVC Point Rating System (PRS)
The GLVC's Point Rating System (PRS), now in its eighth season, helps determine conference tournament seeding by awarding points based on opponent strength and location of games. The formula accounts only for GLVC contests and will finalize rankings based on teams' records at the end of the regular season.
With three weekends remaining in the regular season, Missouri S&T (4.32), Upper Iowa (3.70), and Missouri-St. Louis (3.63) currently lead the PRS standings. UIS (2.70) sits in 10th place, just behind UIndy (2.90). UMSL made a major leap from eighth to fourth after wins over Lewis and Upper Iowa last week. The next PRS update will be released Thursday night.
Follow Along
Fans can watch the game live on the GLVC Sports Network or follow along with live statistics online.
Promotions
Local Heroes Night: UIS Athletics will honor first responders, military service members, and healthcare professionals for their service to the community during Local Heroes Night on Thursday, Feb. 13, at the UIS basketball doubleheader.
In partnership with Springfield Clinic, Memorial Health, and HSHS St. John's, the Cancer Awareness Games recognize those affected by cancer and the medical professionals who provide life-saving care.