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Freshman guard Armon Provo poured in a career-high 30 points as Maryville downed Illinois Springfield 81-74 Thursday night in Great Lakes Valley Conference action at Moloney Arena. Provo’s point total is the highest by a Maryville freshman since Henry Shannon tallied 36 points Jan. 13, 1996, at Blackburn. Provo’s 30 points is the most by any Maryville player since the Saints joined Division II.
 
In a foreshadowing of what was to come, Provo hit a 3-pointer on Maryville’s first shot of the night. Gerald Shaw scored on a layup for a quick 5-0 lead. After the Prairie Stars scored a basket, Ryan Shotkoski drilled a trey, and a hoop by Provo built an 11-3 lead four minutes into the game. UIS slowly closed to 21-17 midway through the first half, but the Saints went on a 10-1 to take their biggest lead of the night 31-18. After a Shotkoski free throw, Provo drained another 3-pointer before UIS made one free throw for a 25-18 Maryville lead. Provo struck again from beyond the arc, and Shaw added a 3-pointer for a 13-point lead with 5:07 left before halftime. The Saints eventually took a 38-34 margin into the break.
 
Maryville still led 44-39 after a Shotkoski trey two minutes into the second half but the Prairie Stars scored six straight to take their first lead of the night. UIS stretched its lead to 56-52 at the 8:50 mark before a Provo trey and Corey Washburn hoop handed Maryville a 57-56 lead. Back-to-back layups by Shotkoski and Washburn extended the Saints’ lead to 61-56 but UIS tied the game at 61-61 with 3:42 to go. However, Shaw hit a deep 3-pointer late in the shot clock as Maryville took a 64-61 lead it would not surrender up the rest of the way. Shaw sank two free throws, and a Provo layup handed the Saints a 68-61 cushion. Maryville closed out the game by hitting 10 straight free throws in the final minute.
 
Provo scored his 30 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range, and he hit all eight of his free throw attempts. In addition, he tied his career best with six rebounds to lead the Saints. Shaw scored 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 5-of-7 from behind the arc, and he added a team-high five assists. Shotkoski and Trae Pemberton both finished with 10 points apiece. Michael Fakuade paced the Prairie Stars (13-12, 10-6) with 14 points and 11 rebounds. UIS shot 50 percent from the field, but the Saints topped that by hitting 57.1 percent, including 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from 3-point range.