LEBANON, Ill. – The men's basketball team hits the road for the first time in GLVC play this week with two in-state trips. They will battle the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars and the Quincy University Hawks.

Game Information

• December 7^th at Illinois-Springfield (7:30 p.m.)
• December 9^th at Quincy University (3:00 p.m.)

Series History
The Bearcats and Prairie Stars have a long history of seeing each other on the hardwood. They have seen each other 30 times over the past 17 years and are deadlocked at 15 wins apiece. McKendree holds the slight advantage in points 2,268 to 2,232 (75.6 to 74.4 points per game). Last time out in Springfield, the Prairie Stars came away with the win by the score of 72-67 on January 28, 2023, but the Bearcats have won three out of the last four meetings.

With the Hawks, McKendree is tied at 7 games each in the ten year history of the series. Last time out, the Bearcats pulled away with the 66-62 win on January 26, 2023. In the series, each time has defended its home court as McKendree is only 1-5 in games played at Pepsi Arena. The lone win in Quincy came back on January 24, 2019 in an 89-85 game.

Scouting the Bearcats
Currently on a five-game win streak after defeating Rockhurst and William Jewell to open up conference play, McKendree (RV) enters the weekend with an overall record of 5-1 (2-0 GLVC). With a win on Thursday against UIS, the Bearcats would start 3-0 in GLVC play for the first time in the D2 era after joining the league in 2012.

Outscoring their opponents 77.7 to 66.2 (leads the GLVC in scoring margin) so far on the season, the offense is led by the reigning GLVC Player of the Week in Milos Vicentic who is averaging 24.8 points per game (4^th in D2 and 2^nd in the GLVC). He has posted 20 or more points in five of the six games, with a career-high 33 in the season-opening loss to Tiffin University. Overall, the Bearcats leading all of the NCAA (including D1 and D3) in field goal percentage at 58.6.

Also in double figures for the Bearcats is Caleb Zurliene who is averaging 13.8 points per game and Joey Niesman at 11 points per game. The senior from Aviston, Illinois is also helping on the defensive end altering shots. He is seventh in Division II with 20 blocks, which also leads the conference. For his career, Zurliene has 145 blocks, which puts him fourth in D2 for active career leaders.

Scouting the Prairie Stars
Just like the Bearcats, UIS is also on a five-game win streak (6-3, 2-0 GLVC) and has opened GLVC play with two wins over Maryville and Missouri S&T. This will be their GLVC home opener as they were on the road last week with the 76-67 win over Maryville and 83-75 win over the Miners.

The Prairie Stars have a scoring margin of 8.8 (80.9 to 72.1) while shooting 50.4% from the field (2^nd in the GLVC). They are the fourth best scoring offense in the GLVC. Jordan Rice leads them with 16.4 points per game. He has three guys also in double figures to support his scoring in Jack Weber (12.9), Jacob Hanna (12.2) and Max Kunnert (10.7).

Scouting the Hawks
The Quincy University Hawks sit at 4-4 (1-1 GLVC) on the season after splitting last week's games with a loss at S&T and defeating the Saints. In the win against Maryville, the Hawks trailed by 7 at the halftime break. Zion Richardson leads them in scoring at 14.1 points per game. The other Hawk in double figures is Isaiah Foster with 10.9 points per game.

As a team they are being outscored on averaged 69.9 to 70.6.