(BOURBONNAIS, Ill., Dec. 7)—The McKendree University men's basketball team slipped to 5-9 on the season following a 72-67 non-conference loss Tuesday at Olivet Nazarene University.

Junior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) registered a double-double for McKendree with team-high totals of 19 points and 14 rebounds. Junior guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) (Florissant, Mo./Christian Brothers) added 18 points, while freshman forward Garrett Gaffner (Breese, IL/Breese Central) (Breese, Ill./Breese Central) established new career highs with 13 points and four blocked shots for the Bearcats, who had a two-game winning streak snapped with the loss.

In the first half, Olivet Nazarene built its biggest advantage at 25-17 before McKendree was able to chip away at the deficit. The Bearcats outscored the Tigers 12-6 over a four-minute stretch to pull within 31-29 with 3:18 left in the period. Pettiford helped spark the run with consecutive three-point field goals. The teams traded baskets the remainder of the half with Olivet Nazarene holding a 35-33 lead at the intermission.

The Tigers scored the first six points of the second half to regain an eight-point lead before McKendree came roaring back once again. A tip-in and free throw by Rakers, followed by another three-pointer from Pettiford, brought the Bearcats within 41-39 with 15:58 on the clock. Olivet Nazarene tried to pull away again, extending its lead to 55-45 with 12:07 left on a tip-in by Ben Worner.

McKendree made one final run at the Tigers, scoring nine of the next 10 points to rally within 56-54 with 8:38 on the clock. Rakers (five points) and Gaffner (four points) accounted for all of the Bearcats' scoring during the spurt.

But the Tigers never lost the lead and pulled away down the stretch to register the win following a 10-day layoff. Nick Klomstad and Cory Hainlen each scored 16 points to lead Olivet Nazarene, which moved to 6-5 on the season. Klomstad also posted a team-leading 12 rebounds for the Tigers, while Worner came off the bench to add 10 points in the victory. The win for Olivet Nazarene was just its second in the last seven meetings with McKendree.

The Bearcats will close out the first half of the 2010-11 regular season next Tuesday (Dec. 14) with a non-conference game at Concordia in St. Louis. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.