SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— Illinois Springfield converted two lay-ups in the final 1:21 of regulation to edge Drury at home 79-75 on Wednesday in Springfield, Illinois.
 
After trailing 41-36 at halftime, the Panthers started the second half on a 12-2 run and led by as much as six. The Prairie Stars went back in front with 8:40 remaining on a three-pointer by Jordan Rice. The game went back and forth and the Panthers tied the game at 75-75 on Juok Riak's lay-up with 1:35 left.
 
Illinois Springfield retook the lead on a driving lay-up by Khalil Ross with 1:11 to go, then forced a Drury turnover on the next possession, and took a four-point lead, 79-75, when Jack Weber converted a shot in the lane with 14 seconds left.
 
"I really wanted this for our guys," said Drury head coach Chris Foster. "They were dialed in and played hard. It came down to a few mistakes down the stretch against a really good team that will make you pay dearly for those mistakes."
 
Riak led all scorers with 23 points and Logan Applegate added 16 for the Panthers.
 
Jordan Rice led Illinois Springfield with 21 points and Jack Weber chipped in 18.
 
Drury shot 53 percent in the game, going 31 for 58 from the field, and was 6 of 16 from three-point range. The Prairie Stars shot 47 percent but were better behind the arch hitting 10 of their 19 three-point attempts.
 
The Panthers out-rebounded UIS 34-29, but the Prairie Stars managed 12 offensive boards and turned them into 21 second-chance points.
 
Illinois Springfield went to 11-4 and 4-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Drury dropped to 7-5 and 0-4 in the league.
 
The Panthers were without Elijah Whitley, who missed the game with an injured hand. 
 
Drury is back at home on Saturday when they host Rockhurst at 3 pm in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
 
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