Prairie Stars Fall Short Against William Jewell, 69-68

Illinois Springfield men's basketball team loses close game to William Jewell Cardinals

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars men's basketball team fell to the William Jewell Cardinals 69-68 in a narrow defeat at the Mabee Center on Thursday night. Despite leading by 10 points at halftime, the Prairie Stars were unable to hold off a second-half rally by the Cardinals, who scored a last-second three-pointer to win the game.

Why it matters

This was a close matchup between two teams with similar records in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The loss is a setback for the Prairie Stars, who were looking to build momentum heading into the final regular season game and the conference tournament.

The details

The Prairie Stars established a strong offensive presence in the first half, fueled by efficient shooting from beyond the arc. Jordan Rice and Isaiah Davis hit crucial three-pointers to help UIS build a 10-point lead by halftime. In the second half, the Prairie Stars initially expanded their lead, but the Cardinals stayed within striking distance and eventually took the lead with a last-second three-pointer to win the game 69-68.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • The Prairie Stars led by 10 points at halftime.

The players

Jordan Rice

A key player for the Prairie Stars, scoring 24 points, recording 9 assists, and collecting 3 rebounds.

Isaiah Davis

Contributed significantly for the Prairie Stars, scoring 18 points with 5 three-pointers.

Tye Banks

Pulled down 9 rebounds for the Prairie Stars.

Alex Stell

Recorded a team-high 10 rebounds and added a block for the Prairie Stars.

Marlon Williams

Secured a pivotal layup for the Prairie Stars in the closing minutes of the game.

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What they’re saying

“This was a tough loss, but we'll regroup and focus on our final regular season game against Rockhurst. We need to learn from this experience and come back stronger for the conference tournament.”

— Jordan Rice, Prairie Stars Player

What’s next

The Prairie Stars' regular season finale is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. against Rockhurst.

The takeaway

This close game between the Prairie Stars and Cardinals highlights the competitive nature of the GLVC conference. The Prairie Stars will need to regroup and focus on their final regular season game and the upcoming conference tournament, where they will look to bounce back from this narrow defeat.