After a dominant home stretch, the Illinois Springfield men's basketball team heads out for a high-stakes road trip. The league-leading Prairie Stars will look to protect their position against a hungry Maryville squad before a massive Saturday showdown against their closest pursuer, No. 23 McKendree.

The Prairie Stars travel to St. Louis on Thursday, Feb. 5, to face Maryville at 7:30 p.m., then head to Lebanon, Ill., for a 3:00 p.m. tip against McKendree on Saturday, Feb. 7. Riding a four-game winning streak, UIS (14-6, 10-2 GLVC) aims to maintain its lead at the top of the GLVC standings.

Illinois Springfield (14-6, 10-2 GLVC)
UIS enters the week with plenty of momentum after sweeping their recent home slate. The Prairie Stars have found success through a balanced offensive attack and elite perimeter shooting, leading the GLVC in three-point field goal percentage (40.2%).

In their last outing, a 78-74 win over UMSL, Jordan Rice officially moved into the top three on the UIS men's basketball all-time scoring list. Rice remains the engine of the offense, averaging 17.4 points and four assists per game. However, it's the depth that has kept the Stars on top; Britton Dutton (10.0 PPG) has emerged as a lethal threat off the bench, shooting 51.5% from deep, while Alex Stell anchors the middle, ranking among the league leaders in rebounds (8.5 RPG) and blocks. 

Maryville (2-19, 0-13 GLVC)
Despite their record, the Saints remain a dangerous opponent that battles until the final buzzer. Maryville's greatest strength lies on the offensive glass, where they rank second in the GLVC with 12.6 offensive rebounds per game. UIS will need to be disciplined in the paint to prevent second-chance opportunities.

The Saints are led by Henry Sanchez, who recently dropped 20 points against UMSL. Maryville has struggled defensively, allowing 88.1 points per game. If the Prairie Stars can exploit the Saints' perimeter defense, they should be able to maintain their offensive rhythm.

No. 23 McKendree (17-4, 10-3 GLVC)
Saturday's matchup is the "Game of the Week" in the GLVC. The Bearcats trail UIS by just a half-game and boast the No. 1 scoring defense in the conference, holding opponents to a staggering 62.2 points per game. McKendree's defense is anchored by their ability to limit shots, leading the league in opponent field goal percentage (37.0%).

Offensively, the Bearcats feature a triple threat in Cha'Vez Woods, Andrew Moore, and Noah Franklin. Woods and Moore are both coming off 20-point performances, and the team thrives on a high-efficiency inside-out game. For UIS to win in Lebanon, they must solve the league's toughest defense while matching the Bearcats' physicality on the boards.

GLVC Outlook
The race for the GLVC regular-season crown has narrowed to a three-team sprint between UIS, McKendree, and Rockhurst. While the Prairie Stars currently hold the best winning percentage, they cannot afford a slip-up on the road.

Follow Along
All GLVC games are streamed on GLVCSN by the host school, which also provides live stats throughout the contest.