The Illinois Springfield men's basketball team opened its season with a convincing 88- 56 win over Roosevelt on Friday night at De Simone Arena in Kenosha, Wis., powered by 14 made three-pointers and a balanced, fast-paced offensive attack.

UIS set the tone early, taking control in the opening minutes behind strong energy on both ends. Freshman Alex Stell put the Prairie Stars on the board with an offensive rebound and putback just seconds into the game, and transfer guard Adidas Davis quickly showcased perimeter presence with early conversions from deep. Jordan Rice sparked the first major run of the night, scoring eight straight during a momentum-shifting stretch that pushed UIS ahead for good. His sequence—highlighted by a three-pointer and a pair of assertive finishes—turned a tight 19-19 game into a growing Stars advantage.

From there, the UIS defense fed its offense. Stell's rim protection, coupled with active rebounding from Isaiah Davis and Tye Banks, created transition opportunities that the Prairie Stars capitalized on. Adidas Davis threw down a dunk with 2:28 remaining in the half to push the UIS lead to 39-25. A fast-break triple before the horn sent the Stars into halftime with a 44-27 lead and full command of the game's tempo.

UIS wasted no time continuing its surge in the second half. Stell opened the period with a three off a Rice assist, and the Prairie Stars kept applying pressure from beyond the arc. Davis continued his efficient shooting night, while Banks provided strength in the paint and on the glass. UIS shot 54.8 percent in the second half and added two blocks and two steals, using both efficiency and defensive discipline to widen the margin.

By the final minutes, the Stars' lead had grown to more than 30 as they closed out a decisive season-opening win. Rice led all scorers with 21 points and added six assists. Davis finished with 15 points—all from three-point range—while Stell impacted the game on both ends with nine points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Banks contributed seven points, nine rebounds, and two steals in a strong all-around performance. 

"We're very pleased with the effort on the defensive end and on the boards." said Head Coach Matt Brock. "I loved the energy we had from our bench, the five guys on the court fed off of it!"

Up Next
UIS opens the season 1-0 and now turns its attention to host-school Parkside, with tipoff set for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.