(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 8)—The McKendree University men's basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit midway through the second half to defeat Olivet Nazarene University Tuesday at the Melvin Price Convocation Center, 78-72.
Junior forward Eric Hobbie (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) scored 12 consecutive points during the Bearcats' rally, and junior guard RaShad May (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) posted a career-best 16 points as McKendree, the No. 12-ranked team in NAIA Division I, snapped a two-game losing skid. The Bearcats improve to 9-4 on the year, while Olivet Nazarene, ranked No. 24 in the same poll, drops to 5-4. Tuesday's victory was also the fourth straight win for McKendree over Olivet Nazarene.
Hobbie finished with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. He had 15 of his points in the second half.
Trailing 56-46 with just over 11 minutes remaining, Hobbie helped the Bearcats start their comeback. Hobbie hit consecutive three-pointers to trim the deficit to 56-52, then converted a steal into a driving lay-up at the offensive end. Hobbie was fouled on the play, and his free throw brought McKendree within 56-55 with 9:57 left.
May capped an 11-0 run moments later with a jumper at the 8:38 mark to give the Bearcats their first lead of the half at 57-56. The lead changed hands eight more times before a jumper in the lane by junior guard Andy Wolff (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) put McKendree in front to stay, 68-66, at the 4:18 mark.
With McKendree clinging to a four-point advantage, Olivet Nazarene's Nick Klomstad scored on a driving lay-up to pull the Tigers within 74-72 with 1:24 remaining. The Bearcats were then able to put the game away from the free throw line as May hit two attempts with 15.9 seconds to play, and freshman guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) sealed the win with two more foul shots with 1.7 seconds on the clock.
In the first half, the teams were tied 10-10 before McKendree reeled off nine consecutive points to grab its largest lead of the night, 19-10, midway through the period. Olivet Nazarene responded with a 13-2 run of its own to seize a 23-21 advantage at the 6:10 mark. The Tigers extended their lead to as many as five points before taking a 34-31 lead at the intermission.
McKendree shot 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field in the contest and held a 41-30 edge on the boards against Olivet Nazarene. The Bearcats also committed just five turnovers in the second half. Junior forward Brad Copelin (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) connected for 12 points as May added seven rebounds and a team-leading three steals in the victory. Senior forward Kenny Detmer (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) handed out a team-high five assists for McKendree.
Antonio Marshall led Olivet Nazarene with 18 points and four assists. Josh Bronke chipped in with 14 points before fouling out for the Tigers.
McKendree will hit the road for a non-conference game Saturday at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
-McK-
