KENOSHA, Wis. — The Kyle Blackbourn era officially begins Friday when the Parkside men's basketball team opens the 2026-27 season at the Conference Crossover in Fayette, Iowa. Parkside faces host Upper Iowa on Friday night before taking on Illinois Springfield on Saturday evening.

About Parkside (0-0)
The Rangers begin the season with the first two games of a three-game road swing. Parkside plays its first home game Nov. 25. The Rangers were picked fifth in the GLIAC preseason coaches' poll.

The new-look Rangers feature 10 new players, including Brian Hawthorne, who was a two-time All-GLVC honoree at Rockhurst. Hawthorne led Parkside with 19 points in the Rangers' exhibition against Wisconsin on Oct. 10. Of Parkside's 10 newcomers, eight are transfers and two are freshmen.

Friday's matchup will mark Parkside's first trip to face Upper Iowa in Fayette since the 2015-16 season. The Dec. 15, 2015, game also marked the Rangers' most recent victory over the Peacocks, a 74-71 win. Luka Mateski had 20 points and five rebounds when the teams met in last season's opener at De Simone Arena.

Parkside is 13-5 all-time against Illinois Springfield and has won three of the past four matchups, including a 95-77 victory at De Simone Arena last season. Four Rangers scored in double figures in that win, including Mateski, who had 26 points on 7-for-10 shooting and five rebounds.

About Upper Iowa (1-0)
The Peacocks, who were picked third in the GLVC preseason coaches' poll, opened the season Monday with a 94-91 overtime win over Sioux Falls. Six players scored in double figures for Upper Iowa, which erased a 12-point halftime deficit with a 50-point second half to force overtime.

Upper Iowa returns 13 players from last season's 17-11 team, including its top four scorers. Kyle Hrncir, Jack Miller and Tate Petersen each averaged more than 10 points per game last season, and Hrncir earned first-team All-GLVC honors.

Along with its 13 returners, Upper Iowa added six players to the 2026-27 roster, including three freshmen and three transfers.

About Illinois Springfield (1-0)
Illinois Springfield opened the season Monday with a 108-72 win over NCAA Division III Millikin. The Prairie Stars were picked fourth in the GLVC preseason coaches' poll after finishing 17-12 overall and reaching the GLVC Tournament quarterfinals last season.

Illinois Springfield returns several key contributors, including GLVC All-Freshman Team selection Alex Stell and Isaiah Davis, who led the Prairie Stars with 12.3 points per game in his first season with the team.

Davis led Illinois Springfield with 26 points on 7-for-14 shooting in Monday's win. All seven of his field goals came from beyond the arc. Stell had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The Prairie Stars shot 50% from the floor and made 18 3-pointers to win their home opener for the 25th consecutive time.

Illinois Springfield faces Roosevelt on Friday in Fayette before taking on Parkside on Saturday.

Up Next
Parkside concludes its season-opening three-game road swing Wednesday, Nov. 18, before returning to Kenosha for its home opener Nov. 25. Links to coverage and tickets are available at ParksideRangers.com.