EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The ninth-ranked Kirkwood men's basketball team lost to Illinois Central, 72-66, in a non-conference game Saturday in Illinois.

Devonte Thedford and Seybian Sims, two normal starters for the Eagles, did not play in Saturday's game for unspecified reasons. Luke Appel and Connor Kasperbauer, who helped Kirkwood win the national title last season, did not play due to injuries.

Kirkwood defeated Illinois Central, 87-68, in the season opener Nov. 1 at the SCC tournament in West Burlington.

Jamal Stephenson and DJ Purnell led Kirkwood (5-3) with 16 points. Purnell grabbed 13 rebounds. Niko Gosnell blocked four shots.

Katon Brown scored 23 points for Illinois Central (4-7).

KIRKWOOD (66): Chris Burnell 5-8 4-5 14, Brady Sartorius 0-0 0-0 0, Gacoby Jones 2-7 0-0 4, Griffen Clark 3-9 0-0 9, Jamal Stephenson 3-7 7-8 16, Jalen Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, DJ Purnell 6-12 4-10 16, Owen Coburn 0-0 0-0 0, Niko Gosnell 2-6 3-6 7. Totals 21-49 18-29 66.

ILLINOIS CENTRAL (72): Grant Anthony 0-0 0-0 0, Jesse Brown 2-3 2-2 7, Katon Brown 9-15 1-1 23, Edward Johnson 1-3 2-2 4, Damond Crosby 7-11 0-1 14, Patrick McKenzie 0-3 0-0 0, DJ Davis 3-12 0-0 7, Koby Klaus 1-3 0-0 2, Tyler Bruggenwith 2-4 0-0 4, Max May 0-0 0-0 0, Armoni Hall 0-1 0-0 0, Fred Cottrell 4-8 1-5 9, Zach Lewkowski 0-1 0-0 0, Garrett Snow 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-65 6-11 72.

Halftime - Illinois Central 41, Kirkwood 31. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 6-18 (Stephenson 3-6, Clark 3-8, Jones 0-4), Illinois Central 6-21 (K.Brown 4-8, J.Brown 1-1, Davis 1-6, Johnson 0-1, Crosby 0-1, McKenzie 0-1, Lewkowski 0-1, Klaus 0-2).