(BOURBONNAIS, Ill., Dec. 2)—All five starters scored in double figures as the McKendree College men’s basketball team posted an 89-80 upset victory Saturday over Olivet Nazarene University in the final game of the Olivet Nazarene/Holiday Inn Express Classic. Olivet Nazarene is ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Division I pre-season poll.

 

Sophomore guard Eric Palm (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) led the charge with 22 points as the Bearcats registered their third win over an NAIA-ranked opponent this season. McKendree is now 8-4 overall and will have a week off before hosting Park University on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.

 

McKendree grabbed the lead for good late in the first half and held off a charge by the host Tigers midway through the second half. The Bearcats snapped a two-game losing streak against Olivet Nazarene and won for the first time in Bourbonnais since the 2002-03 season.

 

Late in the first half, senior guard Mark Stovall (St. Louis, Mo./Jennings) (St. Louis, Mo./Jennings) scored on a layup with 1:14 left in the period to give McKendree a 40-38 advantage. Junior guard T.J. Stone (Hendersonville, Tenn./People's Academy) (Hendersonville, Tenn./People’s Baptist) then hit a three-pointer on McKendree’s next possession to lift the Bearcats to a 43-38 lead at the half.

 

Olivet Nazarene (4-4) battled back to tie the contest at 60-60 with 8:36 remaining before McKendree took control. A three-pointer by Stovall sparked an 11-2 run that gave the Bearcats a 71-62 cushion with 6:45 to play. McKendree eventually stretched its margin to 11 points in posting the road win.

 

Senior forward Mike Strobbe (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) added 21 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for McKendree. Strobbe was selected to the All-Tournament team by averaging 21 points and 14.5 rebounds in the two games at Olivet Nazarene.

 

In his return to Olivet Nazarene, sophomore forward Nick Livas (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) posted 20 points, six rebounds and five steals. Livas spent his freshman season of 2005-06 at Olivet Nazarene before transferring to McKendree. Stovall and Stone each had 12 points for the Bearcats.

Josh Bronke paced Olivet Nazarene with 21 points, while Tyler Wallenfang notched 15 points for the Tigers.