Benedictine University at Springfield men’s basketball coach Ian McKeithen is hoping for a cross-town rivalry with the University of Illinois Springfield.
Benedictine is playing hoops again after a 12-year hiatus. When McKeithen was hired, one of the first people he called was UIS men’s basketball coach Ben Wierzba.
The result of that conversation is a non-conference meeting tonight at 7:30 between host UIS and Benedictine at The Recreation and Athletic Center. It is the Prairie Stars’ home opener.
Benedictine and UIS are both in search of their first win. The Stars are 0-2 after losing over the weekend to Northwood (69-58) and Lake Superior State (67-62) at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover tourney.
Besides winless records, the team’s share another common thread. Both experienced mixed defensive results in games.
“In the first half of both games we defended very well,” Wierzba said. “In the first five minutes of the second halves, we were outscored 25-7. That’s the difference in the two ballgames.”
The men's basketball team was featured by the State Journal-Register on November 14, 2012.
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