SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars nearly erased a 23-point second half deficit against Southern Indiana but ended up falling 86-75 in the second GLVC game of the season. Eddie Longmeyer had 13 points in the second half as part of a 20-point performance as he hit three three's in the second half. The Prairie Stars (3-4, 0-2) cut a 23-point deficit to as little as four but couldn't come all the way back against the undefeated Screaming Eagles (6-0, 2-0).

The Screaming Eagles opened the game with a three from Alex Stein before Vince Walker got the scoring going for UIS on the next possession. Southern Indiana used a 6-0 run to take an 8-2 lead before Brandon Van Sant and Kaj Days hit back-to-back jumpers.

Down eight with 8:01 remaining, Paxton Harmon started a 7-0 run with a jumper which was followed with a three from Longmeyer and dunk from Zach Steinberg.
Southern Indiana took a seven point lead into the half, hitting a three with 42 seconds left to 9-3 run to end the half.

In the second half, USI extended their lead to 23 points with 12:13 remaining in the half, leading UIS 56-33.

Down 63-44, UIS put together a 7-0 run thanks to a three's from Harmon and Longmeyer to cut the deficit to single-digits after two free throws from Lijah Donnelly. The Prairie Stars cut the deficit to four with 2:22 remaining with his final three of the night and UIS had a chance to make it a one-possession game but two missed free throws thwarted the run.

A 7-1 run for USI pushed the lead back to ten with less than a minute to play and they would hold on for the 11-point road victory.

UIS shot 53 percent from the field and 6-of-12 from three in the second half, as they put up 48 points in the second stanza.

Along with Longmeyer's 20 points, he grabbed three rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Steinberg netted 16-points and eight rebounds while Harmon reached double-figures, scoring 12 points.

All seven players that played for UIS scored, including a six point, six rebound effort off the bench from Kaj Days.

UIS will close the 2016 calendar year with three non-conference games and play their final exhibition game at Northern Illinois on December 31^st. The Prairie Stars will be back in action on Tuesday, December 6^th against Governor's State in their first road game since playing Findlay in their season opener.