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McKENDREE vs. ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD -- LISTEN LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network) | WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 19)--The McKendree University men's basketball team will continue its five-game road trip on Monday evening when the Bearcats make the short trip north to face the University of Illinois Springfield. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at The Recreation and Athletic Complex on the UIS campus.

McKendree brings an 8-6 record and a 1-5 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play into Monday's contest. The Bearcats dropped a pair of games to open the road trip, falling at Lewis University 97-70 on Thursday evening before a 90-63 defeat at the hands of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday afternoon. In the UW-Parkside contest, McKendree trailed 59-56 with just over nine minutes remaining before the No. 22-ranked Rangers pulled away down the stretch to post the win.

Although McKendree is just in its third year as members of the GLVC, the Bearcats' series with Illinois Springfield dates back to the days when both were members of the American Midwest Conference. McKendree holds a 12-8 advantage in the all-time series with the Prairie Stars. The Bearcats have won four of six games against UIS, although the Prairie Stars won the most recent meeting, which came in a 78-61 decision last Feb. 27. 

Following tonight's game, McKendree will have two more games in its five-game road swing. The Bearcats will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., on Thursday for a GLVC match-up against the University of Indianapolis before heading north to take on Saint Joseph's College on Saturday in Rensselaer, Ind.

ABOUT ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD
The Prairie Stars are 6-8 overall and 0-6 in the GLVC. Illinois Springfield were up north last weekend and fell to both Wisconsin-Parkside (69-47) and Lewis (81-54) during their trip. First-year head coach Bill Walker has three players averaging in double figures, led by junior guard Jamall Millison at 13.1 points per outing. Millison is also shooting nearly 79 percent from the free throw line. Senior center Dylan Sparkman is averaging 10.2 points and rebounds per game while shooting better than 53 percent from the floor. 

McKendree is 1-2 in GLVC play against Illinois Springfield. The Bearcats' victory came back on Jan. 20, 2014 at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in a thrilling 102-100 overtime triumph. In that game, McKendree overcame a 17-point deficit midway through the second half to force overtime before pulling out the victory in the extra period.