Bolivar, Mo. – The SBU men's basketball team began their 2025 home season falling to the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars 67-68. That moves them to 6-8 (3-5 GLVC).
 
It was a close affair throughout the entire game, with neither team leading my more than single digits. The Bearcats held the lead in most of the 1^st half, by as much nine, but went into the locker room only leading by one. In half number 2, the Prairie Stars retook the lead holding it for a majority of the half. Leading by three with 23 seconds to go, freshman Barron Silsby came in clutch hitting a game tying three with seconds to go. An untimely foul put Illinois-Springfield's Tye Banks at the line to give them the game winning free throw.
 
Senior David Hector pulled off his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Drenin Dinkin's streak of 20+ point came to a halt falling one point short, scoring a team high 19 points. Bayley Crawford was the only other Bearcat to score double figures with 11 points off 66% from the field.
 
The Bearcats will look to bounce back as they continue their home stretch on Saturday, January 18^th. They will play host to the GLVC mascot twin McKendree University at the Meyer Wellness Center at 3:00pm.