(QUINCY, Ill., Feb. 28)—The McKendree University men's basketball team saw its 2015-16 season come to an end Sunday afternoon with an 87-80 loss to host Quincy University in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
 
McKendree, the No. 10 seed in the 12-team tournament, gave the seventh-seeded Hawks all they could handle throughout the contest, building a 10-point lead with just under nine minutes to play. But Quincy battled back and closed the contest on an 11-2 run over the final 3:14 of play to rally for the win. The Bearcats, who were making their first-ever appearance in the GLVC Tournament, end the season with an overall record of 13-14.
 
Junior guard David Franklin (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) led four McKendree players scoring in double figures with 27 points. Franklin had a double-double as he finished the game with 11 rebounds. Senior forward John Murphy (Peoria, IL/Richwoods) poured in a career-high 19 points, including 13 points in the first half. Freshman guard Nate Michael (St. Joseph, IL/St. Joseph-Ogden) scored all 13 of his points in the second half for the Bearcats as junior guard Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) contributed 11 points.
 
Senior center David Newton (Rochelle, IL/Rochelle), who was making his first start of the season for McKendree, posted nine points and a career-high 15 rebounds against Quincy. Newton also matched a career-best by dishing out three assists in the contest.
 
After the teams traded baskets over the first several minutes, Quincy (19-9) reeled off nine consecutive points to take an 18-9 lead at the 12:05 mark of the first half. That was part of a 21-5 spurt that put the Hawks in front 30-14 with 7:40 remaining until halftime. After a free throw from Jackson ended the Quincy run, Murphy scored 10 straight points over a two-minute span to help the Bearcats pull within 30-25 with 5:08 to go until halftime. McKendree got as close at 37-35 at the 1:27 mark thanks to a lay-up by Franklin before the Hawks were able to take a 42-37 lead into the locker room.
 
McKendree slowly clawed its way closer in the early stages of the second half and took its first lead of the period at 48-46 when Michael buried a 17-foot jumper with 16:29 to go. Later in the period, the Bearcats scored nine consecutive points to grab its biggest advantage of the contest, 69-59, with 8:47 remaining. Murphy started the burst with a basket and free throw. Franklin followed with back-to-back lay-ups, and Newton finished off the run with a jump hook in the lane.

Quincy battled back down the stretch and pulled even at 76-76 when Herm Senor drilled a three-point shot with 3:33 on the clock. McKendree took its final lead of the contest on its next possession as Franklin hit a jumper at the 3:14 mark to give the Bearcats a 78-76 advantage. The Hawks then took the lead for good with six points in a row for an 82-78 lead. Michael hit two free throws with 1:03 remaining to bring McKendree within 82-80. Senor then hit another three-pointer with 12.3 seconds to play, and Von Washington sealed the win by hitting two free throws in the waning seconds.
 
Senor scored 19 of his team-high 21 points for Quincy in the second half. Senor also dished out five assists for the Hawks. Godson Eneogwe added 17 points and a team-best nine rebounds, while Joseph Tagarelli chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The win helps Quincy advance to the GLVC Tournament quarterfinals, which will be held at Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. The GLVC Tournament quarterfinals through championship round will be held March 3-6.