Chris Hamil had one of the best shooting days in University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball program history on Saturday at TRAC. His performance led the Prairie Stars to their biggest win of the season in a 68-64 victory over Missouri-St. Louis.
 
Hamil finished the game with 35 points, the fifth-best mark in program history and one away from the school record for the team's NCAA era. He did set the school single-game record by knocking nine three-pointers. He was 10-of-14 shooting for the game, including nine-of-12 from three-point range. He also made six-of-seven from the free-throw line.
 
Hamil was the team's scoring leader at halftime with nine points, including two-of-two from three-point range. The squad's slow start though led to the Prairie Stars trailing Missouri-St. Louis by a 32-22 margin.
 
Head coach Matt Brock started the hot-shooting Hamil in the second half, and he quickly made a pair of three-pointers in the first 2:18 of the period. UIS still trailed by double-figures with 11:50 remaining when Hamil hit his third three-pointer of the second-half. This one sparked a 10-2 run that got the Prairie Stars back into the game.
 
The score was 52-47 in favor of the Tritons when Hamil hit three three-pointers in three straight possessions. The final one came at the 6:0 5mark, and put UIS ahead for good. Jesus Castillo, who held the previous record with eight three-pointers in a game, got open for a three to make the score 59-55, and Hamil was fouled in his next attempt, and his three free throws put the Prairie Stars up 62-55.
 
Missouri-St. Louis, which was just outside the national rankings this week, fought back, and tied the game at 64 with 43 seconds left. On the next possession, UIS missed, but the Tritons turned the ball over after getting the rebound. With its second chance, the Prairie Stars' James Kelley was fouled with 12 seconds left. He made both free throws for a two-point UIS lead. On the other side of the court, UIS forced a long missed by Missouri-St. Louis. Chase Robinson grabbed the rebound and made two free throws for the final points.
 
UIS finished the game shooting 52 percent from three-point range, as it made 13-of-25. Missouri-St. Louis only made three three-pointers in 15 attempts. Missouri-St. Louis outscored UIS 38-12 in points in the paint, but that wasn't enough to make up for the difference behind the arc. Led by Hamil, UIS outscored the Tritons 40-5 in bench points.
 
Kelley finished with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Chase Robinson collected eight points and 11 boards. Robinson and Castillo both had two assists, Kelley blocked two shots, and Castillo had three steals.
UIS has now won six straight, and it is 8-6 overall and 3-3 in GLVC play. The Prairie Stars will look for number seven on Monday afternoon at TRAC.