(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 4)--A pair of Erics put on quite a display as the McKendree University men’s basketball team registered an 84-70 victory Tuesday at home against Olivet Nazarene University.

 

Junior guard Eric Palm (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) scored a career-high 33 points, while freshman forward Eric Hobbie (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) also had a career night with 27 points, which included a run of 19 consecutive McKendree points in the first half. Hobbie also matched a career best with 15 rebounds as the Bearcats recorded their third consecutive win. In addition to their career-high scoring totals, Palm and Hobbie each hit six three-pointers against the Tigers.

 

McKendree, No. 23 in the NAIA Division I pre-season poll, improves to 8-4 on the year. Olivet Nazarene, ranked No. 18 in the same poll, slips to 3-5 overall.

 

The Bearcats broke open a close game in the later stages of the first half as Hobbie started his scoring tear. Hobbie hit five three-pointers during the streak, including a trifecta at the 8:45 mark that pushed McKendree in front 20-15. He sank two more threes before scoring on consecutive lay-ups in a 14-second span the extended the Bearcats’ advantage to 30-21 with 5:29 left in the half.

 

Hobbie’s final points of the spurt, a three-pointer from the wing with 4:20 remaining in the period, capped a 10-4 run that gave McKendree a 36-25 lead. Palm then took over by scoring the final eight points of the half for the Bearcats, who led 44-36 at the break.

 

On the night, McKendree shot 52.5 percent from the field, which included a 12-of-24 effort from three-point range. The Bearcats were also 10-of-11 from the free throw stripe.

 

Phil French led Olivet Nazarene with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Tyler Wallenfang contributed 19 points for the Tigers.

 

McKendree will play host to Park University Saturday at the Melvin Price Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.