URBANA — The Illineks suffered their first home loss of the season as they dropped an overtime decision to conference foe Decatur Christian 63-60 Friday night at Kenney Gym.

The loss creates a roadblock on Uni's path to a fourth straight East Central Illinois Conference title.

Uni is now 9-4 overall, 1-1 in the ECIC. Decatur Christian is 11-2, 3-0.

The Illineks were coming off last week's 3-2 performance in the Hayden Classic's holiday tournament at Heritage and Bismarck-Henning high schools. Uni placed fourth in the 12-team field, losing the third-place game to Fisher 60-42 as leading scorer Mike Renner was forced to sit out because of stomach flu.

In Friday's game, the Illineks played the visiting Warriors close in the first half, going into intermission ahead 29-27.

But the Warriors outscored Uni 16-7 in the third period, taking a 43-36 advantage into the final 8 minutes.

The Illineks in turn outscored Decatur Christian 19-12 in the fourth period as the game deadlocked at 55 and went into overtime. The Warriors pulled away 8-5 in the extra period to win by 3.

Decatur Christian got double-digit scoring from five players: Melvin Tate (13), Malcolm Walker (13), Zach Stortzum (12), Joel Johnson (11), and Demeatrio Wade (10).

Uni, meanwhile, was led by Mike Renner's 18 and fellow senior Chumar Williams' 16. They were the only Illineks in double figures. Senior Isaac Radnitzer led Uni in boards with 8.

Uni will host Lexington tonight in a nonconference game.

THE VARSITY SEASON SO FAR

2007-08 BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL: 9-4 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

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