(JACKSON, Tenn., Nov. 27)—The McKendree University men's basketball team put together a second-half rally, but could not hold off host Union University Friday at the Union Thanksgiving Classic in Jackson, Tenn., 68-60.
The Bearcats reeled off 13 consecutive points midway through the second half to grab a 51-50 lead with 9:41 to play, but the Bulldogs limited McKendree to just seven points over the next nine minutes to pull away for the victory. McKendree, the No. 5-ranked team in the NAIA Division I pre-season poll, slips to 7-2 on the year. Both of the Bearcats' losses in 2009-10 have come at the hands of Union, as the Bulldogs defeated McKendree 66-64 back on Nov. 14 at the McKendree Classic in Lebanon.
Junior forward Eric Hobbie (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) scored 12 of his team-high 19 points in the second half for McKendree, while junior forward Brad Copelin (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) chipped in with 11 points and a team-leading seven rebounds.
Union (5-3) took command early in the first half, using a spurt of 11 consecutive points to build a 17-6 lead in the first seven minutes of play. The Bulldogs eventually pushed its advantage to as many as 14 points before McKendree pulled within 35-26 at the half, thanks to a field goal by sophomore forward Ian Ridge (Flora, IL/Flora) (Flora, Ill./Flora) with 51 seconds to play before intermission.
With Union leading 50-38, McKendree charged back by scoring 13 straight points to grab a 51-50 lead. Hobbie had eight points during the stretch for the Bearcats, while a lay-up by junior forward RaShad May (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) with 9:41 to play capped the run to give McKendree its one-point lead.
From there, Union regained the lead, and held a three-point advantage before a three-pointer from Tacuma Alexander with just under three minutes left put Union in front 64-58. For the game, Union shot 51.2 percent from the field while holding McKendree to just 35.6 percent from the floor.
Alexander paced Union with 19 points, while Greg Truvillion notched 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.
McKendree will complete its stay at the Union Thanksgiving Classic Saturday at 2 p.m. with a game against Freed-Hardeman University, the No. 18 team in the NAIA Division I pre-season poll.
-McK-
