(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 22)—The McKendree University men's basketball team ran its win streak to 10 consecutive games with an 84-68 victory Thursday at home against Williams Baptist College.
Freshman forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) poured in a career-high with 21 points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds to lead the way for McKendree. Senior forward John Ruesler (Bridgeton, Mo./DeSmet) (Bridgeton, Ill./DeSmet) netted a season-best 12 points with six rebounds and five assists as the Bearcats, ranked No. 8 in NAIA Division I, improved to 17-4 overall. McKendree remains perfect in American Midwest Conference play at 5-0.
Senior guard Eric Palm (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) posted 19 points to move within one point of ninth place on the Bearcats' all-time scoring list. Palm sits at 1,756 points, just behind the 1,757 points scored by Kevin Schwartz in his McKendree career from 1987-91.
Junior forward Ken Detmer (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) and freshman guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) (Florissant, Mo./Christian Brothers) each connected for 10 points. Pettiford's total was a career-best. Sophomore guard Andy Wolff (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) dished out a game-high six assists in the contest.
Williams Baptist (5-15, 0-6 AMC) led for a good portion of the first half, holding a 25-22 advantage following a lay-up by Charles Wilson with 7:22 left in the period. McKendree responded with an 11-2 run to grab the lead for good, 33-27, with just over four minutes to play in the half. Five different players scored during the spurt for the Bearcats.
After building a 41-32 lead at the intermission, McKendree pulled away midway through the second half. The Bearcats reeled off 12 consecutive points to extend its margin to 71-46 at the 6:36 mark.
De'Varrio Watson led Williams Baptist with 20 points and seven rebounds. Jermained Templeton added 13 points and three steals for the Eagles.
McKendree hits the road on Saturday for an AMC contest at Hannibal-LaGrange College. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
-McK-
