(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 6)—Senior forward Kenny Detmer (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) (Aviston, Ill./Breese Central) scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the second half to pace the McKendree University men's basketball team to a 71-60 victory Saturday at home against Hannibal-LaGrange College.
McKendree, ranked No. 7 in NAIA Division I, posted its 10th consecutive victory to move to 19-5 overall. The Bearcats also remained undefeated in American Midwest Conference play at 8-0. Saturday's win was also McKendree's eighth straight triumph over Hannibal-LaGrange.
Freshman guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) added 12 points, while junior guard Andy Wolff (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) chipped in with 11 points and a team-high five steals. Sophomore forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) narrowly missed a double-double for McKendree with 10 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Eric Hobbie (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) notched eight points along with a team-best 12 rebounds and five steals for the Bearcats.
McKendree head coach Harry Statham, the all-time wins leader in men's college basketball history at the four-year level, extended another record by coaching in his 1,400th career game on Saturday. Statham pushed his career record to 1,014-386 in his 44th season with the Bearcats.
In the first half, McKendree scored the first eight points of the contest and built an 18-6 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the period. The Bearcats extended the margin to 25-9 after two free throws by sophomore forward Ian Ridge (Flora, IL/Flora) (Flora, Ill./Flora) at the 7:49 mark before Hannibal-LaGrange cut into the Bearcats' lead. The Trojans outscored McKendree 15-4 down the stretch to rally within 29-24. Brian Gilbert sliced McKendree's lead to just five points on a driving lay-up with four seconds left in the period.
Wolff took the inbounds pass and launched a 60-foot shot in front of the scorer's table just ahead of the buzzer. Wolff's shot banked in, giving McKendree a 32-24 advantage at the intermission.
The Trojans pulled within 36-34 in the early stages of the second half, but could not get any closer. McKendree maintained its lead, extending the cushion to double-digits on five different occasions in the period. The Bearcats were able to seal the game from the line in the closing minutes, making all six of their free throw attempts in the last 49 seconds of play.
Gilbert led Hannibal-LaGrange (7-14, 2-6 AMC) with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Gerrell Wells added 11 points, while Darrell Johnson had 10 points, five assists and four blocked shots for the Trojans.
McKendree completed the regular season sweep of Hannibal-LaGrange in the win on Saturday. The Bearcats won 74-59 in Hannibal, Mo., on Jan. 9.
On Thursday, McKendree will play host to AMC foe Columbia College. Tip-off at the Melvin Price Convocation Center is set for 7:30 p.m.
-McK-
