SPRINGFIELD, IL – Millikin men's basketball made the short trip west to face Division II University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars in an exhibition game Monday night at The Recreation & Athletic Center. The Big Blue fell short in the early week exhibition, 108-72.
Graduate forward
Lane Thomann led Millikin with 20 points shooting 8-16 from the floor. Junior forward
Ryheem Tyus joined Thomann with his third straight double-digit performance to start the year at 12 points. Freshman forward
Wyatt Henson went 2-2 from beyond the arc.
Guard Isaiah Davis led UIS with 26 points and was one of four Prairie Stars to hit double-digits.
The Big Blue shot 49.39% from the floor and 58.3% from the free-throw line. The Millikin bench continued its strong start to the season with 34 points.
"I thought we battled well tonight. UIS really challenged us defensively with a balanced attack with their shooters and post presence. We were a step slow, and they made us pay by knocking down shots and controlled the glass," said Head Coach Tom Noonan. "In the second half, we struggled to respond to their runs and weren't able to make the plays necessary to close the gap. Overall, I thought tonight was a good test for us."
The Big Blue continue their road-trip as they head to the Gateway City for a match against Washington University (Mo.) on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 p.m.
