SPRINGFIELD, IL - Senior Davi Austin (Newark, N.J.) scored 14 points to lead the University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team against Illinois in a 104-69 exhibition loss at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center Sunday afternoon.

Austin was one of three Prairie Stars to score in double-figures. Senior-transfer Jesse Tesmer (Greencastle, Ind.) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Redshirt-freshman Vince Walker (Ankeny, Iowa) added 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field. 

The Prairie Stars went toe-to-toe with the Fighting Illini early in the first half. After the Illini opened the game on a 10-2 run, UIS closed the deficit to just three when Austin knocked down a close jumper and then followed that up with three point shot to make the score 10-7. 

With the score 18-13 in favor of the Illini, UIS put together one of its best stretches of play, scoring six of the next seven points and tying the game at 19 on a pair of free throws from senior Jamall Millison (Bolingbrook, Ill.). Millison finished with nine points on just 2-of-13 shooting from the floor. The teams traded buckets and an and-one by junior-transfer Richard Freeman (Indianapolis, Ind.) brought the Prairie Star within one, 27-26, with 6:30 to go in the half.

After a UIS turnover, the Illini's Khalid Lewis knocked down a three-pointer that kickstarted a 17-0 run for the hosts that broke the game wide open. A pair of free throws from junior Mark Weems (Chicago, Ill.) ended the run but the damage was done and the Illini took a 49-35 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Illinois stretched its lead to as many as 36 in the second period as the hosts pulled away for the 104-69 exhibition win. UIS shot 31.8 percent from the floor and converted 19-of-24 from the charity stripe.

UIS kicks off the regular season next weekend at the D2 Vegas Showdown in Las Vegas. The Prairie Stars take on Lake Superior State and Findlay at the tournament.