NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Trevecca Nazarene University men's basketball team (1-3) dropped a 78-71 decision to Illinois Springfield (2-0) Saturday afternoon at the Trojan Fieldhouse.

The Trojans will host Missouri University of Science & Technology (1-1) Tuesday night at 8 p.m. 

Trevecca got off to a fast start Saturday afternoon, knocking down five of their first eight shots--including 3-of-5 from 3-point range--to take a 15-7 lead just over four minutes into the contest. But UIS recovered, the Trojans went cold from the field, and the Prairie Stars built a 36-27 lead with just 1:26 left in the half. The Trojans responded, however, scoring the final six points of the half, including a Jalen Palm (JR/Louisville, Ky.) layup at the buzzer, to cut the Illinois Springfield lead to 36-33 at the break.

Following that hot start, the Trojans missed 23 of their last 29 shots of the half. Meanwhile, Illinois Springfield drained 50% of its 26 shots from the floor, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and knocked down 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

The Prairie Stars scored the first five points of the second half to take a 41-33 lead, but Trevecca answered with a 6-2 spurt to cut the lead back to four. The Trojans were still within six points after two Devonte' Neal (JR/Memphis, Tenn.) free throws made it 57-51 with 10:26 left. But UIS went on a 13-0 spurt to make it 70-51, the Prairie Stars' largest lead of the night, and seemed to have the game in hand with 6:51 left. But the Trojans responded yet again, going on an 18-3 run to close the gap to 73-69 with 1:21 left. Unfortunately, Trevecca would get now closer, and the Prairie Stars held on for the victory.

Palm and Matt Gamberoni (JR/Mulhouse, France) led Trevecca with 14 points apiece, and Gamberoni just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Christopher Elliott (JR/Spring Hill, Tenn.) and Jacob Williams (FR/Nashville, Tenn.) added 11 points apiece for the Trojans. The Prairie Stars' Mark Weems led all scorers with 25.

Trevecca shot just 34.2% (25-of-73) from the field, including 7-of-30 (23.3%) from 3-point range, and made 14 of 22 free throws (63.6%). Illinois Springfield shot 45.6% (26-of-57) from the floor, 46.2% (6-of-13) from beyond the arc, and 62.5% (20-of-32) from the charity stripe. The Prairie Stars finished with a 47-44 rebounding edge, but Trevecca had a 19-13 advantage on the offensive glass.