The Illinois Springfield men's basketball team has announced its 2025-26 schedule, setting the stage for a season that will test the Prairie Stars early and often. The winter opens with a competitive non-conference stretch, followed by a balanced mix of home and road matchups as the team pushes toward the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) tournament.
"Our non-conference schedule has a great mix of home games and quality regional tests to prepare us for the always tough GLVC," said head coach Matt Brock. "We are excited to be back in TRAC getting after it in front of our Springfield fans!"
The Prairie Stars open the season in Kenosha, Wis., for a neutral-site matchup against Roosevelt on Nov. 14, followed by a road contest at Parkside on Nov. 15. UIS then returns to The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) for an early home stretch that features Judson in the home opener on Nov. 18, followed by Williams Baptist and Cedarville late in the month of November.
The Stars open GLVC play on Nov. 29 with a road matchup at Missouri-St. Louis.
December brings plenty of chances for fans to pack TRAC before the holiday break, as UIS will play five of its six scheduled games on its home court. The month begins with GLVC action against William Jewell, McKendree, and Maryville, and also includes non-conference matchups against Missouri Baptist and William Woods to close out the calendar year.
Following a brief winter break, the Prairie Stars jump back into the grind of conference play on Jan. 2 to begin the new year. The GLVC slate features a mix of home and away challenges, including home dates with Rockhurst, Southwest Baptist, Lincoln, Missouri-St. Louis, Lewis, and Upper Iowa. Road contests will take the team to Quincy, Truman State, Drury, Missouri S&T, and Indianapolis, among others.
UIS concludes the regular season with a weekend at William Jewell and Rockhurst. UIS looks to make a return to the GLVC Tournament, which will begin on March 5.
UIS finished the 2024-25 season with a 12-16 overall record and a 7-13 mark in GLVC play, narrowly missing the conference tournament despite strong potential. The Prairie Stars battled through several close contests, including multiple single-digit losses against top league opponents. With a retooled lineup and a challenging non-conference slate ahead, the 2025-26 squad looks to turn the corner and capitalize on last year's lessons in pursuit of a postseason berth.
Fans can view the complete schedule and follow the Prairie Stars throughout the season at uisprairiestars.com for live stats, recaps, and the latest team news. Ticket sales will be announced on uisprairiestars.com in October.
Looking for a refresher on this year's newcomers? Read more here.
2025-26 Men's Basketball Schedule