(ST. LOUIS, Mo., Jan. 27)—Despite rallying from a 21-point deficit in the second half, the McKendree College men’s basketball team came up short in a 64-61 loss Saturday at Missouri Baptist University.

 

The Bearcats needed just seven minutes to erase a 49-28 Spartan lead midway through the second half, but the hosts scored the next seven points and never trailed again to post a key American Midwest Conference win. McKendree, the No. 19 team in NAIA Division I, falls to 14-8 overall and 3-2 in the league standings. The Bearcats will return to action Thursday at home against Hannibal-LaGrange College. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

 

Sophomore guard Eric Palm (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) poured in a career-high 28 points to lead McKendree, while senior forward Mike Strobbe (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) added 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

 

After leading 36-26 at the half, Missouri Baptist (10-9, 3-2 AMC) started the second period on a 13-2 run to open its largest lead of the night, 49-28, with 17:01 remaining. McKendree started its comeback by scoring the next 18 points to cut the gap to 49-46, holding the Spartans without a point for nearly six minutes. A layup pushed the Missouri Baptist lead back to five points before a basket and free throw by Strobbe and a jumper by Palm capped a 23-2 run that tied the contest at 51-51 with 10:16 on the clock.

 

Missouri Baptist responded by scoring the next seven points to regain a 58-51 advantage just 90 seconds later. McKendree battled back and pulled to within 64-61 on a three-pointer by Palm in the final minute. After a missed free throw by the Spartans, the Bearcats had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but a pair of three-point attempts landed off the mark.

 

Jason Fry and Erick Hubbard each scored 11 points to lead Missouri Baptist, while Jimmy Cessna added 10 points for the Spartans. Hubbard handed out a game-high seven assists, and B.J. Lathum grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds.