ST. LOUIS – Evan Palmquist led four Maryville men's basketball players in double figures with 18 points but Illinois Springfield held on to first place in the league and gradually pulled away for an 85-71 win Thursday. Henry Sanchez and Raynard Horry both finished with 15 points, while Eric Hackett tacked on 11 points. Gabe Clemmons finished with nine points and led the team with a season-high eight rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints scored eight straight points to grab an early lead. Eric Hackett started the spree with a layup and tacked on a 3-pointers. Evan Palmquist completed a three-point play as the Saints went up 12-9. Raynard Horry scored on a drive for a 14-12 edge but that would prove to be Maryville's last lead of the contest. UIS scored six straight to retake the lead. Palmquist and Sanchez scored buckets for the Saints before the Prairie Stars went on another 6-0 lead. UIS knocked down three straight 3-pointers and eventually took a 40-26 lead at halftime.
 
Sanchez started the second half with a pair of jumpers as Maryville cut the gap down to single digits. UIS used a 10-3 burst until Hackett splashed consecutive 3-pointers as the Saints trimmed the lead down to 56-44. The Saints tried to make a late push when Horry, Clemmons and Sanchez all scored to chop the gap to 12 but never got the deficit down to single digits.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Evan Palmquist - 18
Rebounds: Gabe Clemmons - 8
Assists: Kobe Clark - 4
3-Pointers: three players - 3
Steals: Kobe Clark and Evan Palmquist - 3
Blocked Shots: three players - 1
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 2-20, 0-14
Illinois Springfield: 15-6, 11-2
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints close out their homestand Saturday, Feb. 7, as they welcome Indianapolis in to Moloney Arena for a 3 p.m. clash.