The UIS men's basketball team will wrap up its winter non-conference schedule with a 1:00 p.m. home game against William Woods on New Year's Eve at TRAC. Then, on Friday evening, conference play resumes when the Indianapolis Greyhounds make the trip to Springfield for a 6:00 p.m. matchup.

Illinois Springfield (7-4, 4-0 GLVC)
UIS enters the week looking to bounce back after a 79-77 double-overtime loss to Missouri Baptist on Dec. 21. The Prairie Stars shot just 38.4% overall and 24.1% from three in that matchup and will look to take advantage of scoring opportunities from deep in their final non-conference game. UIS has a historical edge in the series against William Woods, holding a 6-0 record, though all previous meetings date back to 2008-09.

UIS boasts one of the top offenses in the GLVC, averaging 79.5 points per game. Jordan Rice has led the team in scoring all season, posting 20.6 points per game on 40.1% shooting and also ranks second in the league in assists with 5.4 per game. Isaiah Davis has emerged as a consistent offensive threat, leading the GLVC in three-pointers made per game and ranking third in three-point field goal percentage at 45.5%. Freshman Alex Stell contributes as a top rebounder for the team, ranking fourth in the GLVC with 8.8 rebounds per game. Returning senior Tye Banks and Stell give the Prairie Stars additional scoring versatility, allowing UIS to attack in multiple ways. Coach Matt Brock has emphasized that this team thrives in transition and when its defense sets the tone, a combination that has helped UIS start the 2025-26 season strong.

William Woods (5-9, 2-5 HEART)
William Woods, an NAIA program from Fulton, Mo., is in its first year in the Heart of America Conference after ending a 31-year association with the American Midwest Conference, where UIS and the Owls were previously conference opponents. The Owls come to Springfield 2-2 in December and 3-6 on the road for the season.

Leading the way for William Woods is Mark Onyejekwe, who averages 13.4 points per game, while Brock Davis contributes 9.4 points. Oshae Barquet and Demarco Buchanan also provide scoring options, with Barquet connecting on 36.4% of his three-point attempts. Wednesday's game counts as an exhibition for William Woods but is an official contest for UIS, giving the Prairie Stars a chance to fine-tune their play heading back into conference action.

Indianapolis (5-6, 3-0 GLVC)
Friday's 6:00 p.m. game will be a matchup of two GLVC teams undefeated in conference play. Both UIS and Indianapolis are aiming to return to the GLVC tournament after missing out last year, and both have already defeated top opponents who could impact postseason positioning. UIndy had a hot streak of four wins in late November and early December before dropping three non-conference games in mid-to-late December to Parkside, Tampa, and Eckerd. UIS experienced a similar non-conference stretch, setting up an intriguing Friday night clash at TRAC.

Indianapolis averages 74.9 points per game in conference play, with many of their offensive statistics ranking in the middle of the GLVC. Carmelo Harris leads the Greyhounds with 15.3 points per game on 43.8% shooting and has dished out 36 assists in 11 games. Shaun Arnold and Kelvin Amoako anchor the team on the boards, averaging 7.5 and 6.6 rebounds per game, respectively. 

• Friday's GLVC Doubleheader Celebrates the Love of Basketball! Wear your favorite basketball jersey and cheer on the action from the TRAC bleachers as the Prairie Stars and Greyhounds take the court.

GLVC Outlook
UIS is atop the league at 4-0 in GLVC play, including three home games in one week and a road win at UMSL, the site of this year's conference tournament. Behind them are Upper Iowa and Indianapolis at 3-0, followed by McKendree, Missouri S&T, and Rockhurst at 2-1. With much of conference play still ahead and plenty of road games to navigate, UIS looks well-positioned heading into one of the most important stretches of the season.

Follow Along
Fans can follow both games live on the GLVC Sports Network, with live statistics also provided throughout the contests.