Illinois Springfield boxscore in PDF

Springfield, Ill. - The Maryville men's basketball team rained down 12 3-pointers and shot 52.2 percent from deep to record a 71-61 road victory Saturday afternoon at Illinois Springfield. Four Saints scored in double figures with Anthony Johnson and Jimmy Barton pacing the team with 17 points apiece.

The Saints roared out of the starting gate with three straight 3-pointers to grab and early lead. The hosts were scoreless until hitting two free throws more than three minutes into the game. Maryville kept the advantage for most of the first half but the Prairie Stars eventually tied the game at 17-17. UIS took a 20-19 lead before Jeff Leeson's layup put the Saints back ahead. The Prairie Stars built a 25-21 advantage until a Karson King triple and basket by Johnson was good for a 26-25 margin. Just before halftime, Johnson hit a 3-pointer from the right side to hand the Saints a 39-35 lead.

The Saints began the second half the way they started the game by raining in 3-pointers. Johnson and Leeson hit from deep. After a basket by UIS, Leeson drilled another triple. A layup by Jimmy Barton built a 47-37 margin and forced a Prairie Stars time out. UIS pulled to within six but scores by Forrester Sims and Johnson reestablished a double-digit lead with 14 minutes to play. Barton hit from deep as the Saints took their first lead in the half at 58-47. The Prairie Stars started heating up form outside themselves and trimmed the Maryville lead to 61-55. Marvin Grant-Clark responded with a triple to steady the Saints at 64-55 with 8:11 to play. Barton hit two free throws to keep Maryville up by nine before both defenses took over. UIS eventually closed to 66-61 at the 2:18 mark. One minute later, Barton hit both ends of a one-and-one as the Saints edged back up 68-61. Maryville's defense forced another turnover, and the Saints hit five free throws down the stretch to salt the game away.

Johnson was 3-of-4 from deep en route to his 17 points and also grabbed six boards. Barton had seven assists to go along with his 17-point output. Forrester Sims finished with 16 points, and Leeson chipped in 13 points. King controlled the glass and hauled down 12 rebounds. The Saints finished 12-of-23 from beyond the arc. Maryville's defense held UIS to 38.1 percent shooting.

Maryville improves to 8-17 overall, 2-11 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Prairie Stars fall to 7-15, 2-11 in the GLVC. The Saints start a four-game home stand Thursday, Feb. 9, when they host Bellarmine.