KENOSHA, Wis. - Down just one at the half, the University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team could not overcome a 23-8 run from No. 22 UW-Parkside as the Prairie Stars dropped a 69-47 decision on Thursday evening at DeSimone Gymnasium.
UIS drops below .500 for the first time this season with a 6-7 mark overall and 0-5 in conference action. The Rangers extend their winning streak to nine games and improve to 13-1 on the year and 5-0 in GLVC play. The Prairie Stars look for their first conference victory at Lewis on Saturday. Lewis, who was nationally ranked prior to this week, topped McKendree, 97-70 on Thursday.
Junior
Jamall Millison (Bolingbrook, Ill.) led the team with 14 points. Classmate
Sammie Elem (Chicago) grabbed a game-high 10 boards to help UIS hold a narrow 38-37 edge off the glass.
The Rangers got out to a fast start to lead 11-0 in the first three minutes of the game, hitting three of their six first-half three-pointers in that span. The Prairie Stars responded with an 14-3 run of their own to tie the game for the only time in the game at the 12:40 mark.
It was short lived as a minute later the hosts went on a 13-5 run to take back the game, but once again UIS was not going down without a fight and held the Rangers to just one bucket in the final six minutes of the first. UIS then closed the gap to trail just 29-28 heading into halftime.
A jumper from junior
Colin Blaydes right out of the break gave UIS its only lead of the game as UW-Parkside quickly gained control of the game with a 23-8 run. UW-Parkside held the visitors to just seven total field goals in the half to outscore UIS, 40-19, in the second stanza.
Jimmy Gavin finished with a game-best 15 points, while also dishing out seven assists on the night. Three others joined Gavin in double digits with Jordan Mach hitting 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting and four baskets coming from long range. Mohamed Mohamed and Andy Mazurczak tallied 13 and 11 points, respectively.
For the game, UIS went 30 percent (17-36) from the floor and struggled from the line going just 9-for-16. The Rangers shot 44 percent on 24-for-54 from the floor including 11 triples. The Rangers also hit 10-of-13 from the charity stripe.
Game time is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday in Romeoville, Ill.
