(BOURBONNAIS, Ill., Dec. 1)—The McKendree College men’s basketball team dropped a 74-55 decision Friday to Campbellsville University in the first game of the Olivet Nazarene University/Holiday Inn Express Classic in Bourbonnais, Ill.

 

Campbellsville, the No. 21 team in the NAIA Division I pre-season poll, limited McKendree to just 31.1 percent shooting for the contest to push its record to 6-1 on the season. The Bearcats drop to 7-4 on the year and will meet host Olivet Nazarene University Saturday in the final game of the classic at 3 p.m.

 

In the first half, the teams were tied six different times, the last coming at 26-26 on a pair of free throws by McKendree sophomore guard Eric Palm (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) with 6:06 left in the period. Campbellsville closed the half on a 17-3 run to take a 43-29 lead at the intermission. The Tigers held the Bearcats to a field goal by senior forward Mike Strobbe (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) and another free throw by Palm during the decisive run.

 

McKendree battled back midway through the second half and pulled to within 62-52 after two foul shots by sophomore guard Stan Mayfield (Snellville, Ga./Shiloh) (Snellville, Ga./Shiloh). But Campbellsville quickly regained control by scoring the next 12 points to put the contest out of reach.

 

Strobbe was the only Bearcat player to score in double figures. He had 21 points along with a game-high 15 rebounds. Sophomore forward Nick Livas (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) added nine points, eight rebounds and a team-leading three steals for McKendree.

 

Zach Allender led Campbellsville with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Jason Moore connected for 17 points for the Tigers.