The University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team won its fourth straight game to open the season on Friday night in Hammond, Ind. The Prairie Stars scored the first nine points of overtime and defeated Purdue Northwest by a 97-85 score.
 
The Prairie Stars defense forced eight straight missed shots at the end of regulation and the first three minutes of overtime, and they pulled away with an early run in the extra period. Chase Robinson capped the nine straight points with a three-pointer and two free throws to put UIS in control of overtime by an 87-78 score.
 
UIS shot over 50 percent from the field, including making 16 three-pointers and shooting 45.7 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Prairie Stars held Purdue Northwest to just 42.5 percent shooting from the field, including 27.8 percent from three-point range. The Pride made just 27.3 percent of their shots in overtime.
 
The trio of Robinson, Daniel Soetan, and Matt Wendling carried UIS offensively as all three players had career highs. Robinson finished with 30 points, Soetan had 27, and Wendling scored 26. Keymonta Johnson dished out nine assists in the game, Soetan had a team-high two steals, and Jesus Castillo blocked two shots. Soetan just missed a double-double with nine rebounds, and he had a team-high +17 plus/minus. Johnson had eight rebounds, and Robinson, Castillo, and Wendling all collected six apiece.
 
UIS improves to 4-0 on the season, their second-best start in program history. The Prairie Stars will be home on Tuesday night with a 7 p.m. game against Fontbonne.