The University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team opens the 2018-19 season this weekend at home when it hosts the Prairie Stars Tipoff Classic on Friday and Saturday at TRAC.
 
The four-game conference crossover event will feature two teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and two from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC). The GLVC programs are UIS and Southern Indiana, and the GMAC teams are Malone and Hillsdale.
 
On the opening day of the Tipoff Classic, Southern Indiana will face Hillsdale at 5:30 p.m., followed by UIS having its season opener against Malone at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Southern Indiana takes on Malone at 1 p.m., and the Prairie Stars face Hillsdale at 3 p.m.
 
UIS returns 10 players from last year's team that had its best season since 2011-12 with a 14-14 overall record. Southern Indiana and Hillsdale both hit the 20-win mark last season, and Malone finished the year with 19 victories. Southern Indiana and Hillsdale were selected in the top-four of their respective preseason conference polls.
 
Tickets for the event are $10 per day for reserved seats and $5 for general admission seats. Youths 12 and younger, as well as UIS students, faculty, and staff, receive complimentary general admission tickets.
 
Out of town visitors coming to the event are encouraged to stay at the Holiday Inn Express (217-529-7771) or Crowne Plaza (217-529-7777). The hotels are offering a rate of $84 per night when you call ask for the UIS rate.