SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The William Jewell men's basketball team got off to a great start and hit key shots on down the stretch to hold on and snap a three-game skid on Saturday with a 73-68 win at Illinois Springfield. The Cardinals improve to 4-14 on the season while the Stars fall to 7-10. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jewell got off to a blazing start behind a big first half from Eysan Wiley as the senior had 17 points and eight rebounds by half time. Tied at six, the Cardinals went on a 20-6 run, behind 10 points from Wiley and six from Grant Stubbs, to open a 26-12 lead. The Stars began to heat up, outscoring Jewell 18-11 over the next several minutes to pull within seven. Mason Alexander scored in the paint to push the Cardinal advantage back to nine at the break. 
• Both teams played relatively evenly through the first half of the second period but the Stars slowly chipped away at the deficit, eventually pulling within three, 52-49. Stubbs converted a traditional three-point play followed by a bucket from Wiley to quickly push Jewell back on top by eight. The Stars weren't done yet, outscoring Jewell 11-6 and again getting within three but a clutch three from Jordan Jermain gave the Cardinals all the breathing room they would need.

FOR THE CARDINALS

• Wiley finished with a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds while also blocking three shots and shooting 50% from the floor. 
• Mason Alexander added 18 points and three assists. 
• The freshmen duo of Stubbs and Jermain posted 14 points, six boards and 12 and five, respectively.  
• Jewell shot 44% from the floor and connected on 18-of-24 free throws. 

FOR THE PRAIRIE STARS

• Jack Weber four Prairie Stars in double-figures with 20 pionts while Keymonta Jackson posted a double-double of 14 points, 13 rebounds. 
• UIS out-rebounded the Cardinals, 43-33, including 11 offensive boards, leading to 14 second chance points. 

UP NEXT
Jewell is scheduled to finish out the season at home, beginning with dates with Quincy and Truman next week.