SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The University of Illinois Springfield took the lead in the early part of the game and never looked back as the Prairie Stars downed visiting Lincoln (MO), 81-55, on Monday night at The Recreation and Athletic Center.

UIS improves to 4-1 in the early part of the season and Lincoln falls to 3-6 on the year. The Prairie Stars have three more games left in 2014 and play each one at home, continuing on Saturday against Millikin at 3 p.m.

Just a week ago, Illinois Springfield defeated the Blue Tigers on their home court. The Prairie Stars held an 18-point advantage during the game, but Lincoln was able to whittle its way back to three before UIS took the game. This game was different as UIS took the lead 27 seconds in and eventually ballooned its advantage to more than 30 several times during the game.

The Prairie Stars ran out to a 16-3 lead by the 10:52 mark, limiting the Tigers to just one field goal in the early part of the game. A basket by Malcolm McDonald ended the scoring drought for the Blue Tigers, but UIS continued on with its hot shooting to take a 33-15 mark by 3:02 left in the frame. Junior Jamall Millison (Bolingbrook, Ill.) scored eight of his team-high 17 points during the stretch. UIS added five more free throws and held a 38-19 lead heading into the break.

Lincoln scored just seven baskets in the opening stanza and just one from long range, while UIS shot 37 percent on 12-of-32 from the floor and made 10-of-16 from the line. The Prairie Stars also held a 14-0 edge in points off turnovers, forcing seven in the first half.

In the second half, the UIS offense surged as it took the biggest lead of the game thus far on a lay up from Dylan Sparkman (East Peoria, Ill.) for a 62-31 advantage with 8:22 to play. The Prairie Stars kept their distance and took their biggest lead of the night on a fast break trey from junior JJ Cravatta (Streator, Ill.), 80-43.

Millison was joined by Sparkman and Sammie Elem (Chicago) in double figures as each recorded 13. Elem also filled the stat sheet as he recorded 10 rebounds for his second double-double and added five blocks and two steals in 24 minutes. Sophomore Wes Koral (Naperville, Ill.) and junior Colin Blaydes )Chicago) each helped UIS outrebound Lincoln 55-43 as both grabbed eight boards each. UIS scored 15 second chance points and had 32 in the paint.

It was a team effort to create plays as Illinois Springfield had 17 assists on 26 baskets with senior Kentrell King (Chicago) and junior Davi Austin (Newark, Ill.) leading the way with five each, while Lincoln only recorded nine assists for the game.

Joshua Buie topped the Tigers with 19 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. McDonald tallied 12 points, but was plagued with four turnovers. UIS capitalized on the miscues, taking 20 points from Lincoln on its errors.

Beginning on Saturday, the Prairie Stars continue a four-game homestand as they look to remain perfect in the comfort of TRAC.