Illinois Springfield men's basketball will open its 2026-27 season Monday at 7:30 p.m. when the Prairie Stars host Millikin at TRAC. The game follows the women's season opener against Purdue Northwest at 5:30 p.m., creating a season-opening doubleheader in Springfield.

UIS enters the regular season after an exhibition at Iowa on Oct. 27. The Hawkeyes earned an 88-64 victory, but the opportunity gave the Prairie Stars valuable experience against a Division I opponent on the road.

Alex Stell and Isaiah Davis each scored 12 points to lead Illinois Springfield. Stell added six rebounds, while Davis made two 3-pointers and grabbed six rebounds as well. Britton Dutton added 11 points, while Adidas Davis scored seven points and Jorden Williams finished with six.

The exhibition gave the Prairie Stars an opportunity to get the full active roster on the floor. Newcomer Kobe Clark started, while Quenton Parker played 13 minutes and Jake Nosek saw 12 minutes as Illinois Springfield worked new pieces into its rotation.

Illinois Springfield returns several key contributors from last season, led by Davis, who is the team's top returning scorer after averaging 12.3 points per game in his first season with the Prairie Stars. He also made 96 3-pointers in 2025-26. Dutton averaged 10.2 points per game, while Stell made an immediate impact as a freshman with averages of 7.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

The Prairie Stars were picked fourth in the GLVC preseason poll as they begin a season with a mix of experienced returners and new additions.

Monday's matchup marks just the second meeting between Illinois Springfield and Millikin. Despite the schools being separated by roughly 40 miles, the teams have only met once previously, with that game coming in 2014.

Millikin competes in NCAA Division III as a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). The Big Blue enter Monday's game 2-0 after opening the season with a pair of wins. Millikin has leaned heavily on its 3-point shooting early in the season and has converted just under 70 percent of its free-throw attempts.

The Prairie Stars also have a notable streak on the line Monday. Illinois Springfield has won its home opener in each of the last 24 seasons, dating back to 2002. A win over Millikin would extend that streak to 25 consecutive home-opening victories.

Following Monday's game, UIS will spend the next several weeks on the road, facing in-region opponents before beginning GLVC play.

Fans can watch Monday's game on GLVCSN, follow live statistics online or attend in person at TRAC. Tickets are available online.