Prairie Stars Fall to No. 24 Missouri S&T

Illinois Springfield men's basketball team unable to overcome opponent's hot shooting performance

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Illinois Springfield men's basketball team fell to No. 24 ranked Missouri S&T, 87-66, at Gibson Arena on Tuesday night. The Prairie Stars struggled to contain Missouri S&T's hot shooting, as the visitors knocked down 16 three-pointers in the game. Despite strong efforts from Jordan Rice, Alex Stell, and Isaiah Davis, UIS was unable to overcome the early deficit and rally back for the win.

Why it matters

This loss drops Illinois Springfield to 15-8 overall and 11-4 in GLVC play, making it more difficult for them to maintain their position in the conference standings. Missouri S&T, on the other hand, improves to 17-4 overall and 11-3 in GLVC, solidifying their ranking as one of the top teams in the league.

The details

Illinois Springfield fell behind early as Missouri S&T connected on a series of three-pointers to build a 19-5 lead. The Prairie Stars were unable to find their rhythm from long range, hitting just 3 of 14 three-point attempts in the first half. Despite a late rally, UIS trailed 46-32 at halftime. In the second half, Missouri S&T continued to extend their lead with a series of fastbreak opportunities. Jordan Rice tried to spark a comeback with a layup and two three-pointers, but the Prairie Stars were unable to significantly close the gap, and Missouri S&T held on for the 87-66 victory.

  • The game was played on Tuesday night, February 10, 2026.
  • Missouri S&T built a 19-5 lead within the first two minutes of the game.

The players

Jordan Rice

A player for the Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars who scored 16 points, including three three-pointers, and added three assists in the game.

Alex Stell

A player for the Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars who posted 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting and collected 11 rebounds.

Isaiah Davis

A player for the Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars who contributed six rebounds and made two three-pointers.

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The takeaway

This loss highlights the challenges the Illinois Springfield men's basketball team faces in competing against top-ranked opponents in the GLVC. The Prairie Stars will need to improve their three-point shooting and defensive intensity to remain competitive in the conference standings.