Not much has come easily for the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team this season, and Saturday was no different.
The Prairie Stars had to work for their 76-75 victory over Saint Joseph’s in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game at The Recreation and Athletic Center.
UIS senior guard Brandon Snowden was the hero on the offensive end. His offensive rebound and layup cut the Pumas’ lead to 75-74 with 1 minute 43 seconds left. Snowden then came through at the free throw line with :57 remaining. His first free throw rolled around the rim several times before dropping and tying the game at 75. His next foul shot swished through the basket for a 76-75 edge.
It appeared as if UIS had widened its lead in the closing seconds, but Dylan Sparkman’s offensive putback with seconds remaining was waved off due to a shot-clock violation and the Stars gave the ball to Saint Joseph’s with 7.5 seconds left.
Up one point with time running out, UIS (6-11, 2-7) turned to its defense to snap a four-game losing streak.
The win was featured by The State Journal-Register on January 26, 2014.
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