Box Score

ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T held a lead over Illinois Springfield for a large portion of Saturday afternoon's contest at Billy Key Court, but the Prairie Stars were able to make the plays down the stretch to escape with a 71-69 victory.

A layup by West Dawson off an inbounds pass with 36 seconds to play gave UIS the lead, then the Miners turned the ball over while coming up the floor on their next possession.  The Prairie Stars left the door open for S&T when Jermaine Love-Roberts twice made only one of two at the free throw line, the second time with seven seconds remaining, but Michael Fakuade preserved the win for UIS when he blocked Carlton Westbrook (Centralia, Ill./Centralia)'s potential game-tying shot at the rim just before the final buzzer sounded.

The loss dropped S&T to 3-18 overall and 2-11 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference as it prepares to embark on a three-game stretch away from home in an effort to squeeze its way into the conference tournament.  The first game of that road swing comes Thursday at GLVC West Division leader Missouri-St. Louis.

S&T opened the game well by taking an early 15-7 lead as it held the Prairie Stars to just one-of-10 shooting to start the game.  UIS came back and cut the Miner lead down to one after a basket by Dawson at the 4:21 mark of the opening half, but the Miners closed the half on a 7-2 run to take a 32-26 lead at the half.

UIS scored nine of the first 11 points of the second half to grab a one-point lead at 35-34, but the Miners responded by regaining the lead on two free throws by Tommy Pelczynski (Nashville, Ill./Nashville) at the 16:31 mark.  S&T would build its lead to seven points within the next three minutes after a jumper by Curtis Okafor (Kansas City, Mo./Bishop Miege) and spent the next several minutes holding off charges by the Prairie Stars.

The Miners extended their lead back to six seven points on a three-point play by Pelczynski at the 6:36 mark, but UIS rode Fakuade and Jermaine Love-Roberts to draw even at 63 with 2:39 remaining.   Love-Roberts' basket tied the score, then after Bryce Foster (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) hit two free throws with 2:13 to go, Fakuade tied the game again at 65 with 1:27 left when he scored on a short jumper.

Westbrook put the Miners back into the lead when he sank a pair of free throws at the 1:15 mark, but Keith Smith hit two at the other end 15 seconds later to knot the score again.  After a missed shot, the Prairie Stars called timeout with 38 seconds to go to set up the play that put them up for good on the Dawson basket.

After the S&T turnover, Love-Roberts made the second of two at the line to push the lead to three.  Jackson hit a layup with nine seconds remaining to trim the lead to one, then Love-Roberts made only the second free throw to give the Miners an opportunity.   Westbrook drove to the basket, but Fakuade shifted across the lane and blocked the shot to end S&T's last hope.

The Miners, who shot 51 percent from the field in the game, had four players in double figures led by Pelczynski with 17 points.  S&T also got 14 points from Foster and 13 from Jackson and Okafor, who reached a career-high in the process. The Miners also outrebounded UIS 36-24, with Pelczynski leading the way with eight, but turned the ball over 20 times on the afternoon.

Love-Roberts had a game-high 23 points and Fakuade added 18 for the Prairie Stars (11-11, 8-5 GLVC).

Missouri S&T will play UMSL at 7:30 p.m., Thursday in St. Louis.