SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (11-17, 5-13) fell in overtime to McKendree (13-13, 6-12) by a score of 88-83, but made their fifth straight GLVC tournament. Zach Steinberg pushed the game into overtime with a three in the final seconds of regulation, but UIS fell late and received the 12-seed in the GLVC tournament.

The Prairie Stars jumped out to an early lead, making their first three shots of the game. Jesse Tesmer made two layups before Jamall Millison hit a three to give UIS a 7-0 lead. McKendree tied the game at 10 but UIS responded with five straight points to take the lead back.

UIS led for the entire first half and pushed their lead to as much as 11-points with just over a minute to go on a three point play from Steinberg. McKendree responded with back-to-back three's to cut the UIS lead to 47-42.
The Prairie Stars came out firing in the second half, much like the first, and got the lead back to eight with over ten minutes remaining and then pushed it to a game-high 11 a minute later.

Down 76-69, McKendree went on a 10-0 run over a five minute span to take their first lead of the game at 79-76. The Prairie Stars didn't score again until the final seven seconds when Steinberg tied the game on what was the biggest shot of the night --- a three from the right wing to tie the game at 79.

In overtime, the Prairie Stars fell subject to a 6-0 run from the Bearcats before Austin put down a ferocious dunk to stop the run. Two Millison free throws cut the deficit to two with 90 seconds remaining but the Prairie Stars missed their last five shots from the field to end the game.

Davi Austin ended the game with a team-high 18 points, was one rebound shy of a double-double, and dished out five assists. Steinberg had 16 off the bench, while grabbing seven boards, four on the offensive side and JJ Cravatta hit 4-of-10 from the floor for 14 points.Paxton Harmon played 25 minutes in the game and grabbed five boards and scored five points.

Although UIS lost, they made their fifth straight GLVC tournament due to Maryville and Missouri S&T losing as well. The Prairie Stars earned the 12-seed in the tournament and will travel to Lewis on Sunday for a 3 pm tipoff.