Two home losses for men’s basketball

In the game against Bellarmine, the second half featured six ties and five lead changes

February 03, 2010
By Michael Omenazu
Assistant Editor for Sports

The UIS men’s basketball team played two hard fought contests last week versus Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine University, both ending in tight loses for the Prairie Stars.

Senior forward De- Andre Miranda rises above a swarm of Bellarmine players to lay in a basket during the Stars conference match. - Photo by Colten Bradford

On Thursday, the Prairie Stars took on a tough Northern Kentucky team led by 6-9 Center David Palmer (17 ppg 7.9 rebs.). Palmer, an Iowa transfer was tested early and often throughout the game. The Prairie Stars defense held Palmer 10 points shy of his season average.

“[Our post defense was] Our biggest positive in the game. The post played really good as far as limiting Palmer to few touches,” said Prairie Stars senior guard, Richard Oruche

The Prairie Stars defense was the biggest positive on the night just limiting Northern Kentucky to 59 points in the game. Northern Kentucky coach Dave Bezold gave the Prairie Stars lots of credit on their defense.

"When we thought we had a wide open look, UIS did a good job at closing gaps and challenging shots.”

While the Prairie Stars did a good job on playing defense, offensively they played very poorly; scoring a season low 53 point while only shooting 32.1 percent from the field.

Oruche simply says, “We just couldn’t put the ball in the basket.”

On Saturday, the Prairie Stars hosted another GLVC heavyweight in Bellarmine University. The game was a back and forth battle between both teams which included seven lead changes and six leads in the second half. The biggest factor in the Prairie Stars losing this game 71-67 was there free throw shooting. They shot very poorly from the charity strike, going 7-17 on the game (41.2 percent).  “[Free throws] are huge in a close game,” said Senior Guard Derrick Tribble.  “We did not take advantage on the free points as well as their mistakes on defense.”
Bellarmine came out the gates with an early nine point lead in the first six minutes of the game. The Prairie Stars quickly responded with a 16-2 run to close out the first half with a 37-33 lead.
Both teams went back and forth in the second half, but with 2:44 left in the game Justin Benedetti hit a jump shot and Bellarmine never looked back from there. Benedetti and Jeremy Kendle led Bellarmine in scoring with 18 points apiece. Richard Oruche had a game high 23 points for the Prairie Stars.
This week the Prairie Stars hit the road on Thursday February 4th for a contest against nationally ranked Quincy University. That game is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. They will be back in the confines of TRAC Saturday February 6th for a non-conference game against cross town rival Robert Morris-Springfield. That game is scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m.