The University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team opened the 2018-19 season with an 81-70 victory over Malone. The home contest was part of day one action at the Prairie Stars Tipoff Classic.
 
The two teams were tied midway through the first half at 16, but the Prairie Stars went on a 19-9 run the rest of the half for a 10-point lead. UIS held Malone to just 28.6 percent shooting in that half.
 
In the second half, both offenses heated up compared to the first half. UIS built its lead to as many as 18 at the halfway point of the period. Malone was able to cut that lead to seven in the final couple of minutes, but that was as close as the Prairie Stars would let them get.
 
UIS finished the game shooting 44.4 percent from the field, and it held Malone to just 37.7 percent shooting, including 34.4 percent from three-point range. The Prairie Stars also had three more rebounds, three more blocks, and three more steals, and it committed two fewer turnovers.
 
Gilwan Nelson finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals. He knocked down all five three-pointers he attempted. Two newcomers, Peyton Allen and Daniel Soetan, each finished with 16 points. UIS's balanced offensive attack also included nine points from Cole Harper, seven each from Aundrae Williams and Vince Walker, and four for Zach Steinberg. Soetan led the Prairie Stars with eight rebounds and four blocks.
 
UIS will be back in action again on Saturday at TRAC, taking on Hillsdale at 3 p.m.