Illinois Springfield opened its season with a 90-71 victory over Roosevelt on Saturday.
Isaiah Davis and Britton Dutton each scored 20 points for the Prairie Stars, who built a 43-33 halftime lead and shot 48.5% from the field overall. Davis hit four 3-pointers and grabbed four rebounds, while Dutton added eight field goals in 27 minutes.
The Prairie Stars capitalized on 19 Roosevelt turnovers, turning defensive pressure into transition opportunities.
Kobe Clark pulled down 11 rebounds and handed out seven assists for Illinois Springfield, anchoring both ends of the floor.
Roosevelt struggled to find consistent offense against a taller Illinois Springfield lineup, shooting 43.3% overall and 35.3% from beyond the arc. Jonathan Ogunfuye led the Lakers with 18 points and seven rebounds, hitting six of 12 shots from the field. Marcus Pigram added 15 points and four rebounds, while Zander Woodruff chipped in 12 points.
Illinois Springfield took control early by shooting 50% in the opening frame, connecting on seven of 18 attempts from 3-point range. Dutton fueled the perimeter attack with seven first-half points, while Davis added aggressive drives that led to four quick free throws.
The Lakers stayed within striking distance by attacking the paint, where Ogunfuye scored ten of his points before intermission. Roosevelt trailed 43-37 at the break after shooting 37.93% in the first twenty minutes.
Illinois Springfield maintained its double-digit lead throughout the second half by cleaning up the defensive glass and limiting second-chance opportunities. Lyncoln Koester contributed 13 points off the bench for the Prairie Stars, shooting five of eight from the field.
Quenton Parker added 10 points in reserve minutes for Illinois Springfield, including a fast-break dunk that pushed the lead to 16-6 early in the contest. The Prairie Stars bench outscored the Roosevelt reserves 35-22.
Illinois Springfield dominated the boards with 43 total rebounds compared to 31 for Roosevelt. The Prairie Stars also recorded five blocks and five steals, disrupting the Lakers’ offensive flow in the paint.
Roosevelt connected on 13 of 20 free-throw attempts, finishing at 65.0% from the line. Illinois Springfield converted 14 of 17 free throws for an 82.4% success rate.
Illinois Springfield moves to 2-0 overall and remains 0-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. Roosevelt drops to 1-1 overall and 0-0 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.
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