(HANNIBAL, Mo., Feb. 24)—The McKendree College men’s basketball team suffered a 79-76 setback Saturday at Hannibal-LaGrange College in the 2006-07 regular-season finale for both teams.

 

The Bearcats overcame a 45-42 halftime deficit to build a six-point lead with eight minutes to play, but the host Trojans rallied for its third victory in its last four home games against McKendree. The Bearcats slipped to 20-10 overall and closed out American Midwest Conference play with a record of 8-4. McKendree has earned the No. 2 seed in next week’s AMC Tournament, and will host No. 7 Harris-Stowe State University Wednesday at 7 p.m.

 

Hannibal-LaGrange shot 62.5 percent from the field (30-of-48), including a 67.9 percent clip (19-of-28) in the first half to lead by as many as 11 points in the period. McKendree trimmed the deficit to one point on three different occasions in the second half before the Trojans grabbed a 45-40 lead in the final 30 seconds of the half. A tip-in off an offensive rebound by senior forward Mike Strobbe (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) (Ferguson, Mo./McCluer) with two seconds remaining in the half brought the Bearcats within 45-42 at the intermission.

 

McKendree took its first lead of the contest, 57-56, when sophomore guard Eric Palm (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) was fouled shooting a three-point shot, and he made the ensuing free throws with 12:29 to play. Palm had nine points during a 17-5 run that gave the Bearcats a 67-61 lead with 8:01 on the clock.

 

Hannibal-LaGrange (12-16, 5-7 AMC) surged back in front moments later with a 9-2 spurt for a 77-71 lead with 1:57 remaining. The Bearcats chipped away and pulled to within 79-76 on another tip-in by Strobbe with three seconds left. The Trojans had a chance to seal the victory at the free throw line, but missed two attempts.

 

The Bearcats had one final chance off an inbounds play with 1.5 seconds on the clock, but Palm was short on a desperation 30-foot shot at the buzzer.

 

Palm led McKendree with 22 points, while Strobbe chipped in with 18 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Mark Stovall (St. Louis, Mo./Jennings) (St. Louis, Mo./Jennings) added 10 points, while sophomore forward Nick Livas (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) pulled down a team-leading eight rebounds.

 

Branko Veljovic led the way for Hannibal-LaGrange with 17 points, while Wayne McPike connected for 14 points.