(ST. LOUIS, Mo., Jan. 15)—Junior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) posted 19 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to lead the McKendree University men's basketball team to an 86-76 victory Saturday on the road at Missouri Baptist University.
Rakers scored the first 11 points of the second half as the Bearcats rallied from a 36-34 halftime deficit to record the victory. Rakers also finished with nine rebounds as McKendree moves to 9-10 overall and 3-1 in American Midwest Conference action. The Bearcats have won four of their last five contests.
Senior forward Eric Hobbie (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) (Vandalia, Ill./Vandalia) added 16 points and three assists while junior guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) (Florissant, Mo./Christian Brothers) chipped in with 12 points for McKendree. The Bearcats shot nearly 61 percent (20-of-33) in the second half and made 12-of-17 free throw attempts in the final 20 minutes of play.
McKendree jumped out to a 9-4 lead before Missouri Baptist (6-11, 0-3 AMC) rallied to grab the lead midway through the period. The Spartans led by as many as four points before the teams traded leads six times in the later stages of the first half. Hobbie scored on a rebound and lay-up to tie the game at 34-34 in the final minute of the period before the Spartans' Michael Pettiford answered with a lay-up just before the first-half buzzer to give Missouri Baptist a 36-34 lead at the intermission.
Rakers provided the spark at the start of the second half, using five field goals and a free throw to spark an 11-2 run out of the break to give McKendree a 45-38 lead with 16:19 to play. The Bearcats continued to pound the ball inside as they stretch the advantage to as many as 13 points in the later stages of the half.
Missouri Baptist tried to rally, pulling within 74-69 with just over four minutes to play, but a basket by Rakers and another from Hobbie helped McKendree regained its advantage. The Bearcats were able to hold off the Spartans from the free throw line, hitting 6-of-8 attempts in the final two minutes of play.
Sophomore forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) matched Rakers with nine rebounds for McKendree. Senior guard Andy Wolff (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) (Centralia, Ill./Metro-East Lutheran) registered eight points, five rebounds, five assists and a team-best three steals in the win for the Bearcats.
LeAndre' Johnson poured in 25 points to lead Missouri Baptist, while Rondu Stevens contributed 20 points and a team-leading seven rebounds. The teams will meet again Feb. 12 at the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon.
McKendree will have a week off before returning to AMC play next Saturday (Jan. 22) at home against Harris-Stowe State University. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
