The University of Illinois Springfield men's basketball team continued its dominance in the final five minutes of a game, and it led to the team's first GLVC win of the season. The Prairie Stars defeated Drury on Thursday night at TRAC by an 80-76 score.
 
UIS trailed 67-64 at the five-minute mark and the Panthers had the ball. The Prairie Stars tied the game at 67 and 71, and then took a brief 73-71 lead on a layup by Jack Weber. Drury came back and tied the game at 75 with 44 seconds left.
 
On the next possession, Chase Robinson drove the lane and was fouled on his shot attempt. He made both free throws to put UIS back ahead. Drury had a chance to match those free throws, but missed the first one with 12 second left. Jordan Rice made two free throws with 10 seconds left to put UIS ahead by three. After a non-shooting foul with six seconds remaining, Drury missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Weber clinched the game with a free throw.
 
The game was close late thanks to UIS being up by as many as 18 in the first half. The Prairie Stars had a 41-30 halftime lead after it held Drury to just 30 percent shooting in the period. Drury caught fire in the second half from three-point range, and led by as many as seven, before UIS came back for the win.
 
Both teams shot the ball well from three-point range. UIS made nine-of-17 for 52.9 percent shooting. Drury made 11 on the night, including seven-of-12 in the second half. UIS had a 39-26 rebounding edge, and Drury had a 12-6 turnover advantage.
 
Robinson finished with a team-high 20 points, and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Weber had 19 points and seven boards on the night. Rice and Jesus Castillo combined to go seven-of-10 from three-point range. Rice had 14 points, while Castillo finished with nine. Kelley also had nine points and nine rebounds. Robinson was one of four players with two assists, and he had a team-high two steals.
 
UIS moves back to .500 at 6-6 on the season. The Prairie Stars are now 1-3 in GLVC action. The team will be in action again next Thursday at Lindenwood.