SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's basketball team fell to Illinois Springfield 78-74 at The Recreation and Activities Center (TRAC) in Springfield, Ill., on Saturday afternoon. The Tritons drop to 12-10, 6-7 GLVC while the Prairie Stars are 14-6, 10-2 GLVC.
 
It was a slow start for UMSL. Vincent Davis III scored all three of the Tritons early points before Makeer Makeer scored a layup to stop UIS's quick start.
 
Jake Hamilton and Miles Boland found their stride in the middle of the first. Boland's jump shot just before the media timeout tied the game at nine. And his back-to-back three-point makes in the middle of the half re-tied the game at 15.
 
Three-point shooting continued to help the Tritons stretch the lead with Taye More and Hamilton adding their own makes. Boland converted both his free-throws in the last twenty seconds to give UMSL a two-point lead heading into halftime.
 
The Tritons fell behind early in the second half thanks to a six-point run by the Prairie Stars in the first three minutes. Two Demetris Phillips free-throws broke UIS's scoring streak. Boland continued to find space in the lane, adding another four points before the first media time out.
 
UMSL struggled to match the Prairie Stars three-point conversation clip in the middle of the second. Phillips made one, but UIS extended its lead to 11 and the Tritons struggled to close for the rest of the half.
 
A quick layup from Boland and a three-pointer by Moore gave UMSL life with just over two minutes to go but the Prairie Stars free-throw shooting kept UIS in the lead. Moore made a layup with a second left on the clock to end the game 74-78 UIS.
 
The Tritons shot 47 percent (27-for-56), including 8-of-19 from beyond the arc and 75 percent at the foul line. Boland scored a career high 20 points to go with three rebounds and three steals. Moore had 19 points while Hamilton added 12 points and nine rebounds.
 
UIS shot 43 percent (24-for-56) from the field, was 8-for-24 from three and shot 76 percent at the foul line. Britton Dutton was the leading scorer for the Prairie Stars with 19 points.
 
The Tritons return to Mark Twain next weekend on Thursday (Feb. 5) hosting UIndy at 7:30 p.m.