(ST. LOUIS, Mo., Dec. 4)—The McKendree University men's basketball team nearly overcame a 25-point halftime deficit, but came up short in the closing minutes in an 82-67 loss Friday against host Washington University in the semifinals of the Lopata Classic.
McKendree, ranked No. 5 in NAIA Division I, trailed 47-22 at the intermission, but outscored Washington (Mo.) 24-3 in the first 7:21 of the second half. However, the Bears then scored the next 10 points and were able to pull away for the victory. The Bearcats slip to 8-3 overall and will face Whitworth University in the consolation game of the Lopata Classic Saturday at 6 p.m.
Washington University, the two-time defending NCAA Division III champions and current No. 1 team in the Division III poll, improves to 4-0 and will take on Pomona-Pitzer College Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Lopata Classic title game.
Freshman guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) poured in a career-best 19 points, including four three-point field goals. Junior guard Andy Wolff (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) chipped in with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Wolff also notched five assists and three blocked shots.
The Bearcats shot just 28 percent in the first half as Washington (Mo.) quickly built a double-digit lead. The Bears led 16-6 just six minutes into the contest, then reeled off 15 consecutive points to grab a 31-9 advantage with 7:13 left in the period. Washington (Mo.) led by as many as 26 points before taking its 47-22 lead at the half.
McKendree reversed its fortunes with a fast start to the second half, scoring 18 of the first 19 points of the period. Steppe connected on back-to-back three-pointers to close the run as he and Wolff combined for 13 points during the stretch that brought the Bearcats within 48-42 with 14:06 remaining.
Washington (Mo.) made its first field goal of the second half with 13:17 on the clock, but the Bearcats continued their run as a pair of free throws by Steppe and a steal and dunk from junior forward Brad Copelin (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) cut McKendree's deficit to 50-46 with 12:39 left.
At that point, Washington (Mo.) scored the next 10 points over a two-minute stretch to build its lead back to 60-46. The closest that the Bearcats would come the remainder of the contest was at 64-56 on a dunk by sophomore forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) with 6:58 to play.
Aaron Thompson led a balanced attack for Washington (Mo.) with 21 points, while Sean Wallis added 20 points and five assists.
-McK-
