DECATUR — After being outscored 23-10 in the third quarter, Uni came within four late in the final period but couldn't hold on in a 50-41 loss to conference opponent Decatur Lutheran.

Junior Dan Lilly and sophomore Warren Skoza continued to impress — Lilly leading the offense with 16 points and four three-pointers, and Skoza leading the defense with 11 rebounds, five blocks, and two steals to go with eight points.

Uni jumped out to an early 17-10 first-quarter lead. Despite only scoring five points in the next period, they held their opponents to six en route to a 22-16 halftime lead.

But the Illinek defense was just as porous in the third quarter as it was solid in the second. Uni allowed 23 third-quarter points and suddenly trailed 39-32. The Illineks' fourth-quarter charge fell short as LSA pulled away for the nine-point win.

The host Lions were led by Alex Joyner with 19 points and Todd Watkins with 18.

For Uni, no one besides Lilly reached double digits. Junior Costa Cangellaris scored eight points, including a pair of three-pointers. Senior Malcolm Taylor had a team-high five assists to go with two points and two steals.

With the loss, Uni falls to 10-6 overall and 4-2 in the East Central Illinois Conference. Uni has now played all ECIC teams this year except Judah Christian; the Illineks will face the Tribe Tuesday in Champaign.

In losing to the Lions (10-8, 5-1), Uni also lost a chance to regain the upper hand in the conference title race. Decatur Lutheran had recently defeated the Normal Calvary Baptist Crusaders 81-76, knocking off the only remaining team with an unblemished ECIC record. Now Uni drops behind Lutheran, Calvary, and Judah in the conference standings; each of those teams has lost just one ECIC game compared to Uni's two.

The Illineks continued this year’s disparity in home and road records. Uni is now 3-4 on the road this season, but the Illineks are much better at home, where they sport a 7-2 record.

The loss ends a seven-game win streak against Decatur Lutheran. Last year, Uni defeated the Lions 69-56 at home and 59-52 on the road.

The Illineks next play on Saturday at Paxton-Buckley-Loda in a nonconference game. Last year Uni dominated PBL at home in a 71-57 win.

Uni's JV lost another close game, falling to the Decatur Lutheran JV 35-28.

AT A GLANCE: UNI AT DECATUR LUTHERAN

Game Summary
Decatur Lutheran School Association (LSA) defeated Uni 50-41 in a conference game

• Uni: 17 05 10 09 — 41
• LSA: 10 06 23 11 — 50

JV: Decatur Lutheran defeated Uni 35-28

Varsity Record

• Overall: 10-6
• East Central Illinois Conference: 4-2

Uni Highlights

• Junior Dan Lilly had 16 points (including four three-pointers), three rebounds, two assists, one steal
• Sophomore Warren Skoza had eight points, 11 rebounds, five blocks, two steals

Uni Individual Statistics
Player: Total Points (2-pointers made - 3-pointers made - free throws made)

• Dan Lilly: 16 pts (2-4-0), 3 rebs, 2 assts, 1 stl
• Costa Cangellaris: 8 pts (1-2-0), 2 assts, 1 stl
• Warren Skoza: 8 pts (4-0-0), 11 rebs, 5 blks, 2 stls
• Alan Kessler: 4 pts (2-0-0), 2 rebs, 1 asst, 1 blk, 2 stls
• Malcolm Taylor: 2 pts (1-0-0), 2 rebs, 5 assts, 2 stls
• Nile Hamer: 2 pts (1-0-0), 2 rebs, 1 asst
• Neil Pearson: 1 pt (0-0-1), 2 rebs, 1 asst
• Miles Bribriesco: 0 pts (0-0-0)
• Seth Bull: 0 pts (0-0-0), 1 reb
• Will Fernandez: 0 pts (0-0-0), 1 reb, 1 blk
• Jack Snyder: 0 pts (0-0-0)
• Joseph Song: 0 pts (0-0-0), 1 reb
• Charlie Wan: 0 pts (0-0-0)

For LSA, Alex Joyner had 19 pts (6-2-1) and Todd Watkins had 18 pts (5-1-5)

Uni Team Statistics (opponent totals in parentheses)

• Total Points: 41 (50)
• 2-pointers made: 11 (16)
• 3-pointers made: 6 (4)
• Free throws made: 1 (6)
• Rebounds: 25 (not available)
• Assists: 12 (n/a)
• Blocks: 7 (n/a)
• Steals: 8 (n/a)