ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T's rally in the final minutes fell short as the Stars outings to the charity stripe pushed the University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team to a 89-80 victory on Saturday afternoon at Billy Key Court.

The Miners held a 69-46 from the floor, but UIS made 43 of its 52 opportunities at the free throw line to overcome the difference. The visitors also outrebounded the Miners 37-32 and were able to hold off S&T's late run that saw it cut an 11-point deficit down to three in the final minute of play.

The first half saw eight ties and nine lead changes, with the Miners leading as many as six - their biggest margin of the night - with just under five minutes to play in the half. The Prairie Stars knotted the score over the next two minutes and despite the home team regaining the lead, leading scorer JJ Cravatta (Streator, Ill.) hit a three-pointer to close the half with a 39-37 lead. Cravatta finished with season-best 24 points with 12 coming from the free throw line.

S&T regained the advantage on its opening possession of the second half on a three-pointer and had the lead two more times in the early minutes. With the Miners in front, 46-45 basket with 16:36 to go, UIS went back in front on a pair of makes by Mark Weems (Chicago), starting a 7-0 spurt that gave it a lead it would not relinquish. Weems tallied 14 points and was 10-for-10 from the line.

A basket by Missouri S&T with 8:05 remaining cut the UIS lead to one at 64-63, but the Prairie Stars responded with a 10-0 run that gave them their largest lead of 11 with 4:46 to play. 

Illinois Springfield led by 10 with just over two minutes to play, but S&T quickly got the margin down to six on free throws and a lay-in after a UIS missed shot. Weems' grew the advantage back, but Missouri S&T was able to close the gap to 83-80 with less than a minute to play. Cravatta, however, hit six straight at the foul line in the final 49 seconds to snap the Prairie Stars' four-game losing streak.

UIS' 50 second-half points are the most scored in a conference game this season and its 43-for-52 outing from the line was a season-best. The Stars hit 46 percent of their shots and turned the ball over just 11 times.

Cravatta led all scorers, while senior Dylan Sparkman (East Peoria, Ill.) added 20 and grabbed 10 boards. Junior Dusko Despot (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) was the fourth UIS player in double digits with 13 points.

The Miners had four players in double figures, led by Desmond Buerge with 21 points. Clement Bonardo recorded 16 points and two others also scored in double figures.

The Prairie Stars now return to Springfield for a four-game homestand beginning on Thursday, Feb. 12 against William Jewell. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in TRAC.