UIS (17-12, 13-7) dropped an 89-63 GLVC quarterfinal tournament game to McKendree (22-7, 14-6) in the Mark Twain Building on the campus of Missouri-St. Louis, ending the 2025-26 campaign.

"We ran into a buzz saw tonight, anything we did they had an answer for," said head coach Matt Brock. "They shot the ball extremely well and are one the best defenses in the country for a reason. One game does not define a season, and I am extremely proud of what this group did this year - the most GLVC wins in UIS history. We will miss our seniors but we will be back stronger and better next year!"

McKendree jetted out to an 18-8 lead to open the game on the strength of four three-pointers. UIS pulled back to within four after Adidas Davis and Lyncoln Koester hit consecutive three-pointers. The Bearcats maintained hot three-point shooting and pushed the lead to 32-17, hitting eight of their first 14 bonus field goals.
 
McKendree rode hot outside shooting to a 48-34 halftime edge, hitting nine three-pointers, two shy of the team's season high for a full 40 minutes. The Bearcats held their largest lead at 18 after Cha'Vez Woods converted four consecutive free throws after a foul and bench technical for a 46-28 advantage with 1:34 to play in the half. Jordan Rice scored six points in the final 90 seconds, finishing the half with four three-pointers and a team-high 15 points, cutting the lead back to 14.
 
McKendree scored the first nine points of the second half, pushing its lead to 57-34, forcing UIS into a timeout. The Stars were 0-3 from the field and had three turnovers at that point of the half. The Bearcats led by 25 before Donaven Younger scored the first points of the second half. UIS cut the lead to 20 when Adidas Davis scored on a driving layup to pull the Stars to a 60-40 deficit. UIS could get no closer the rest of the game. McKendree had its largest lead at 89-58 (31 points) with 59 seconds to play.
 
The Bearcats had a 20-6 edge in the second-chance points, thanks in part to 13 offensive rebounds, contributing to a 41-25 edge on the glass.
 
Rice was the leading scorer in the game with 20 points. He finished his career with 1,333 points, third on the UIS all-time scoring list. Juniors Isaiah Davis with 12 and Britton Dutton, 10, were the other double-figure scorers for UIS. Freshman Alex Stell and senior Colin Schuler each had five rebounds to lead the Stars. The Bearcats had five players in double figures, led by Woods with 18. It was the final game in a UIS uniform for Rice, Schuler and Tye Banks.
 
McKendree, who was the #6 seed in the tournament, will face #2 seed William Jewell on Saturday. Third-seeded Indianapolis and #8 seed Drury will play in the first semifinal.
 
It was the 43rd meeting between the two Illinois programs, the most for any UIS men's basketball opponent. The Bearcats now have a 25-18 edge in the series, having won two of three this year. It was the first time the two teams met in the GLVC Tournament. The last time the two programs met in conference tournament play, both teams were members of the NAIA's American Midwest Conference, and UIS won back-to-back title games over McKendree in 2006 and 2007.