SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team will open up Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Saturday when they travel to Missouri S&T. This weekend marks the beginning of GLVC play for all 15 teams, with some tipping conference play on Thursday night.

SETTING THE SCENE
The Prairie Stars (5-2) head into the match-up riding a five-game winning streak, the third longest in the GLVC, behind only #3 Bellarmine and (RV) William Jewell. UIS is one of just three teams to play seven games already this season, having played five home games in the past two weeks.

Missouri S&T (1-4) enters having lost their last two games, both in California, after picking up a 79-60 win over Robert Morris-Peoria. This will be the first GLVC game for the Miners as well, who have a bye on Thursday along with the Prairie Stars.

LET'S TALK STREAKS
UIS has won five straight games for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The Prairie Stars completed their five-game home stand with an unblemished mark, outscoring their opponents by an average margin of 23.4 points.

In those five games, UIS is shooting 49.8 percent from the field and owns a 221-to-159 advantage on the boards. The Prairie Stars own a 1.4 assist-turnover ratio while putting in over 92 points per game.

Eddie Longmeyer has led the charge, averaging 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in the five games. This is much in part to the senior guard shooting 66.1 percent from the field, making 39-of-59 attempts.

NEWCOMERS WELCOME
Aundrae Williams and Collin Stallworth have both made their presence felt since deciding to continue their basketball careers in Springfield. Williams is averaging 10.9 points per game, good for second on the team, while Stallworth grabs 3.9 rebounds per game.

In addition, Gilwan Nelson, who is one of three players to start all seven games, is dropping in 9.3 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent from the field.

A LOOK AT MISSOURI S&T
The Miners have played eight total games this season, three of which being exhibitions against Division I opponents. Missouri S&T has dropped their last two regular season games, including just an 11-point loss at #7 California Baptist.

Due to injuries, four of the five Miner starters average over 33 minutes per game and with that, the starters average 88.9 percent of the points and 79.2 percent of the rebounds.

The Miners are led by Chris Harris who averages 16.4 points per game while four players average in double-figures. Sebastian Ferenc leads with 9.8 rebounds per game while Ervin Sarajlic is right behind with 9.2 rebounds per contest.

Missouri S&T is 14^th in the league in scoring offense and 12^th in scoring defense, leading to the worst scoring margin (-10.8) in the GLVC.

MEDIA CENTRAL
Missouri S&T Game Notes
UIS Game Notes
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Live Stats
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COMING UP NEXT
UIS will return home after a one game road trip to face Rockhurst University on Thursday, December 7^th. These two GLVC games will be the only two of the 2017 calendar year before returning to non-conference play the rest of the month.

The Prairie Stars will travel to Kentucky State on December 9^th to return a home-and-home before hosting Glenville State on Saturday, December 16^th. UIS will close out the 2017 calendar with Lincoln Christian University on Monday, December 18^th.