SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars improved to 3-2 on the season with a 90-74 win over Blackburn in their final game before the conference season begins. Illinois Springfield used 51 second half points to push past the Beavers as they shot 56.4 percent on the game, their second straight game over 50 percent.
Five Prairie Stars scored in double figures, led by
Zach Steinberg who recorded his fourth consecutive double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. He also dished out a team-high four assists and had two blocks on the night.
In the first half, the two teams traded leads before Blackburn took a three point lead with 11:47 remaining in the half. This was the Beavers largest lead of the game and was cut down on three consecutive free throws by UIS and then a three from
Vince Walker.
With 4:26 remaining,
Paxton Harmon scored to make the score 32-30 and UIS would not trail again in the game. A 5-0 run at the end of the half on a three from
Lijah Donnelly and layup from
Eddie Longmeyer gave UIS a 39-32 lead at the break.
UIS began the second half with seven straight points and forced Blackburn into a timeout just 1:51 into the half. After the lead grew to as much as 14 for the Prairie Stars, Blackburn chipped away and got the deficit to just seven with 12:39 remaining but that was as close as it would get. Walker hit another dagger three and Steinberg followed with two free throws to push the lead back to double-digits.
The Prairie Stars closed the game making five of their final seven shots to thwart any comeback the Beavers may have had.
Harmon ended the night with 13 points, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal while Longmeyer closed with 17 points and seven rebounds. Walker and Donnelly had 11 and 12 points, respectively, hitting a pair of threes each. UIS forced 17 turnovers on the night, turning that number into 24 points.
This was the final tune-up for the Prairie Stars before play starts in the GLVC on Thursday, December 1
st. UIS will host #8 Bellarmine (3-1) in the conference opener with tip-off set for 7:30 PM.
