SPRINGFIELD, IL --- The Prairie Stars (7-15, 2-11) will begin a four-game road trip on Thursday when they travel to Missouri S&T (9-11, 3-10) and will then head to Springfield, Missouri to take on Drury University (13-8, 6-7). Illinois Springfield looks to snap a six-game losing streak as they fight for the final playoff spot in the GLVC tournament.

SETTING THE SCENE
The Prairie Stars look to end a six-game slide when they travel to Missouri S&T on Thursday. The Prairie Stars have actually been better on the road than at home this year, putting together a 3-4 record on the road, including both their conference wins.

Missouri S&T (9-11, 3-10) has been on the wrong side of their last two games, falling to Southern Indiana and Bellarmine on the road last week. The Miners have dropped seven of their last nine conference games, picking up wins against William Jewell and Truman State. The Miners are currently 12^th in the overall standings, trying to hold on to the final playoff spot.

Drury (13-8, 6-7) has dropped four consecutive games after beating both William Jewell and Rockhurst on the 19^th and 21^st of January. The Panthers sit fourth in the GLVC west division and are currently 10^th in the overall standings.

CONFERENCE NUMBERS
Eddie Longmeyer and Paxton Harmon have each put up better numbers in conference play than out of it. Longmeyer is currently 16^th in conference scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game, while Harmon tallies 14.7 points per game, 17^th best in the GLVC. Both these numbers are higher than their overall averages.

ON THE BOARDS
The Prairie Stars rank third in the GLVC in total rebounds, grabbing 858 on the season. This is assisted by Zach Steinberg grabbing a GLVC-best 8.9 rebounds per game.

HITTING FROM DEEP
Vince Walker has made himself comfortable behind the arc this year, connecting on 43.5 percent of his three's, the sixth best mark in the GLVC. His 60 three's this year rank seventh best in the league where he is joined by Harmon, who ranks 13^th with 49.

80 IS A LUCKY NUMBER
When the Prairie Stars score at least 80 points, they hold a 7-1 record. When UIS fails to reach the 80-point plateau, they hold a 0-14 record.

ROAD WARRIORS
UIS is 3-4 in true road games this season against just a 4-11 mark in Springfield. Two of those three wins have been in come from behind fashion, trailing at the half. Those two wins were against Governor's State and McKendree.

A LOOK AT THE RECORD BOOKS
Zach Steinberg has entered the top-25 all-time in scoring at UIS, recording his 500^th career point last Saturday and now owning 511 career points. Not yet halfway through his career, he is over halfway to 1,000 points and could break into the top-15 by the end of the season.

Walker and Harmon each continue to move their way up the all-time three-point list. With 90 career three's, Walker sits 6^th all-time just six away from breaking into the top-5. Harmon has hit 76 career three's and is just five away from joining the ranks in the top-10.

Bahari Amaya, Steinberg, Harmon, and Walker are four of the top five three point marksmen in UIS history. Amaya (43.0), Harmon (41.5), Steinberg (40.9) are the top-three while Walker (39.0) is ninth.

RETURNING TO HIS ALMA MATER
Head coach Bill Walker will return to Rolla, Missouri where he was a standout on the basketball team for three seasons. Walker is 2-0 against his alma-mater at UIS.

SCOUTING MISSOURI S&T
 The Miners come into Thursday's contest sitting among a pack of teams trying to finish among the top 12 in the overall conference race to make the tournament field.  S&T's next four games are against teams in a group that has between two and four wins in league play.

Jalen Myers continues to lead the Miners in scoring with an average of 14.4 points per game and is among the leaders in three-pointers made with 54 on the season.  Teammate Ervin Sarajlic, who has made 36 treys, is fifth in the GLVC as he has connected on 50 percent of his attempts from long range.

As a team, the Miners are one of three in the GLVC averaging more than 10 three-point baskets per game.

S&T is also getting 12 points per game from Telloy Simon -- who has hit 38 threes on his own part -- 11.7 per contest from Randy Holmes and 10.3 a game from Juwan Miller, who with his next assist will become only the second Miner in history with back-to-back seasons with 100 or more assists.

Miller ranks second in the GLVC in steals with 44 on the year and is third in assists per game with just under five per contest.

SCOUTING DRURY
Drury enters the weekend slightly above UIS in scoring average, putting in 72.8 points per game, but ranking seventh in scoring defense, allowing just 75.3 in conference games only.

The Panthers rank 16^th in the league in rebounding, grabbing only 30.1 boards per game, though they make up for that on the defensive end, ranking third in steals, averaging 7.77 takeaways per game.

Tevin Foster leads the way for Drury, averaging 14.0 points per game and also a team-high 4.2 assists per game. Four Panthers reach double-digits a game. Isaac Johnson has hit 48 three's this season, ranking him 13^th in the GLVC.

MEDIA CENTRAL
Live Stats vs. Missouri S&T
GLVCSN vs. Missouri S&T
Radio vs. Missouri S&T   

Live Stats vs. Drury
GLVCSN vs. Drury  

Game Notes