URBANA — For the second night in a row, the Illineks just couldn't find a way to pull out a victory.

Coming off Friday night's 63-60 overtime loss to conference opponent Decatur Christian, the Illineks fell to the Lexington Minutemen 51-48 in a nonconference game Saturday at Kenney Gym.

Senior Frankie McFarland led Uni (9-5, 1-1) with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Fellow senior Mike Renner was the only other Illinek to score in double digits, contributing 12 points and 6 rebounds. Renner made 2 of the team's 3 treys.

Both teams got off to slow starts in the field, managing 8 points apiece in the first quarter. Uni started to take control in the second quarter, as the Illineks went into halftime leading 28-22.

The third quarter was also defined by defense, as Uni managed 8 points to Lexington's 7, taking a 36-29 lead into the final quarter. But then the Minutemen went on a tear, outscoring Uni 15-4 to take a 4-point lead.

The two teams stayed close the rest of the game, and with 7 seconds left, Uni found itself with possession needing 3 points to send the game into overtime. But senior Austin Rundus' 3-pointer in the closing seconds did not fall, and the Illineks found themselves looking at their third consecutive loss.

Uni fell to Lexington last season 68-37 on the road. The Illineks next play at Normal Calvary Baptist on Tuesday.

THE VARSITY SEASON SO FAR

2007-08 BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL: 9-5 overall, 1-1 ECIC
(home matches listed in bold)

Nov. 19: Shiloh (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 80-32

• Story: Uni routs Shiloh in season-opening tournament game
• Leading scorers: Mike Renner 13, Austin Rundus 13
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 69-17

• Story: Uni faces no trouble in 69-17 win over BCL
• Leading scorer: Chumar Williams 13
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Nov. 23: Bement (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 73-59

• Story: Uni to play in tournament final after victory over Bement
• Leading scorer: Chumar Williams 21
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Nov. 24: Martinsville (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney championship game), W 74-43

• Story: Renner breaks 3-point record as Uni wins Turkey Tourney championship
• Leading scorer: Mike Renner 23
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Nov. 30: at Shiloh, W 72-23

• Story: Illineks roll to best start of Beesley era
• Leading scorer: Mike Renner 19
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Dec. 4: St. Thomas More, W 63-45

• Story: Payback! Uni defeats St. Thomas More by 18
• Leading scorer: Mike Renner 20
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Dec. 14: at Oakwood, L 67-54

• Story: Illineks fall to Oakwood in first loss of season
• Leading scorer: Mike Renner 16
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Dec. 18: Uni JV vs. BCL Varsity, W 40-23 (counts toward Uni's ECIC record only)

• Story: JV defeats BCL varsity to begin conference play
• Leading scorers: Miles Bribriesco 7, Warren Skoza 7
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Dec. 27: Heritage (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 67-32

• Story: Uni goes 2-0 in first day of holiday tourney
• Leading scorer: Isaac Radnitzer 16
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Dec. 27: Georgetown-Ridge Farm (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 63-41

• Story: Uni goes 2-0 in first day of holiday tourney
• Leading scorer: Frankie McFarland 17
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Dec. 28: Salt Fork (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), L 71-64

• Story: Illineks 3-1 after second day of Hayden's Classic
• Leading scorer: Mike Renner 19
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Dec. 28: Atwood-Hammond (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 59-42

• Story: Illineks 3-1 after second day of Hayden's Classic
• Leading scorer: Mike Renner 26
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Dec. 29: Fisher (Hayden's Classic at Bismarck-Henning), L 60-42

• Story: Uni ends tournament with loss to Fisher as illness sidelines Renner
• Leading scorers: Austin Rundus 16, Chumar Williams 16
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Jan. 4: Decatur Christian, L 63-60 (OT)

• Story: Uni loses to Decatur Christian in OT
• Leading scorer: Mike Renner 18
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

Jan. 5: Lexington, L 51-48

• Story: Illineks fall in second straight home loss
• Leading scorer: Frankie McFarland 14
• Game stats: Gargoyle scoreboard

2007-08 schedule: Click here for the Gargoyle Scoreboard, which includes remaining varsity games.