URBANA — Despite a great defensive effort, a halftime lead, and a fourth-quarter comeback, Uni couldn't manage a win Saturday, falling to the Fisher Bunnies 47-42 in a home nonconference game.

With the loss, Uni falls to 5-2 overall, maintaining a 1-0 mark in the East Central Illinois Conference.

The game was the Illineks' sixth in seven games in which they had held their opponents under 50 points, with their "worst" defensive game coming at LeRoy in a 56-45 loss.

Offense has been the struggle for the Illineks this year, as they have scored more than 60 points only once, when they went off for 80 against an overmatched Buckley Christ Lutheran team in the Central Illinois Turkey Tournament.

Fisher jumped out to an early lead, but Uni crept back to even the score after the first quarter. At halftime, on the back of their defense, the Illineks led 20-17.

But the Bunnies came back late in the third quarter, taking a 36-32 lead into the final period. The Illineks didn’t give up toward the end, but Fisher was able to ice out the five-point win.

Junior Dan Lilly led Uni with 18 points, the seventh time in seven games that he's paced the team in scoring. Senior Alan Kessler added 10 points and three steals. Sophomore Warren Skoza chipped in six points and a team-high six rebounds.

Senior Malcolm Taylor had four points and six assists. Sophomore Will Fernandez and junior Nile Hamer were the only other Illineks to score, with two points each.

Uni split last year’s games with Fisher, winning 71-60 at Fisher and losing in the third-place game of the Hayden’s Classic 60-42.

The Illineks return to action Monday at Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette in a nonleague contest.

Uni vs. Fisher at a glance

Game Summary

• Fsh: 10 07 19 11 — 47
• Uni: 10 10 12 10 — 42

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

• Dan Lilly: 18 pts (6-1-3)*, 4 rebs, 2 assts, 1 stl
• Alan Kessler: 10 pts (5-0-0), 3 rebs, 1 asst, 3 stls
• Warren Skoza: 6 pts (3-0-0), 6 rebs, 3 blks
• Malcolm Taylor: 4 pts (2-0-0), 3 rebs, 6 assts, 3 stls
• Will Fernandez: 2 pts (1-0-0), 4 rebs
• Nile Hamer: 2 pts (1-0-0), 3 rebs
• Costa Cangellaris: 0 pts, 1 reb, 2 assts
• Neil Pearson: 0 pts, 1 reb

Team Totals (opponent in parentheses)

• Points: 42 (47)
• Two-pointers made: 18 (12)
• Three-pointers made: 1 (4)
• Free throws made: 3 (11)
• Rebounds: 25 (not available)
• Assists: 11 (n/a)
• Steals: 6 (n/a)
• Blocks: 3 (n/a)