SPRINGFILED, Ill. – The Trevecca men's basketball team (4-7, 2-0 G-MAC) were defeated 76-68 at the University of Illinois Springfield (4-4) on Saturday. The game was the season-debut for Trojan sophomore guard Nick Drake. Drake, who was the 2013 G-MAC Freshmen of the Year, suffered an injury during preseason practice. Drake finished with eight points.

The first half of the game was tight until the Prairie Stars pulled away for a five-point (17-12) lead at the 11:52 mark. Trevecca kept it tight and trailed by just six points (32-26) with 6:28 remaining in the half. Trevecca used an 8-2 run to tie the game at 34-34 with 4:42 to go. Trevecca regained the lead (40-38) moments later when Nick Drake scored on a layup. David Woodard's dunk with :26 to go gave the Trojans a 44-42 halftime advantage.

Trevecca's balanced first-half scoring saw Jordan Miles lead the way with nine points. Byron Sanford (6), David Woodard (7), Taylor Clay (8), and Nick Drake (8) all made some noise in the first half.

Trevecca outscored UIS 5-2 over the first two minutes for a 49-44 lead. Unfortunately the Trojans would score just 19 points the rest of the way as UIS outscored Trevecca 34-24 in the second half. Trevecca started the second half hitting just six of their first 24 shots.

The Prairie Stars used a 6-0 run to gain the lead for the first time in the second half, 50-49. With 6:26 remaining UIS held a four-point (65-61) advantage, but turned that into a 10-point lead (74-64) with a 1:24 to go. From there Illinois-Springfield held off the Trojan efforts to secure an eight-point (76-68) win.

Woodard led Trevecca with 16 points and was joined in double figure scoring by Sanford (14), Taylor Clay (11), and Miles (11). Sanford added 10 rebounds to recorded a double-double, while leading the team with four steals. Miles also grabbed seven rebounds.

Jacob Williams led UIS with 28 points and 11 rebounds.

Trevecca shot 39% (24-62) from the field, 25% (4-16) from three-point range, and 80% (16-for-20) from the foul line. UIS had a 37-36 advantage in rebounding. After hitting 56% (14-25) from the field in the first half, Trevecca hit just 27% (10-37) in the second half. The Trojans hit 13-of-14 from the foul line in the first half, but only hit 3-of-6 in the second half.

Trevecca will stay close by and play McKendree University (Lebanon, Ill.) on Monday (16th). The game with the Bearcats (5-1) will tip at 7 p.m. It is the final game for the Trojans in 2013. McKendree defeated Trevecca 84-80 at the Trojan Fieldhouse on November 30th. The Bearcats own a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series.

McKendree Game Live Media – Audio (TNU) – Video / Stats (McK)