Box Score
BOX SCORE

(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 10)—The McKendree University men's basketball team dropped a 64-55 decision Thursday at home against Maryville University in the Bearcats' 2011-12 season opener.
 
The Bearcats cut a 12-point deficit midway through the second half to just four points in the closing minutes, but the visiting Saints made all five of their free throw attempts in the final 42 seconds to hang on for the win.
 
Thursday's contest marked the first of three games in as many days for McKendree to open the 2011-12 season. The Bearcats will host the McKendree Classic Friday and Saturday at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center. McKendree will look to bounce back Friday at 7 p.m. against Logan College of Chiropractic. Union University will meet Lindenwood University in the first game of the Classic Friday at 5 p.m.
     
Against Maryville, senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) led a balanced scoring attack for McKendree with 13 points. Rakers also added five rebounds, three assists and a team-leading three steals in the effort. The three steals matched a career-high for Rakers.
 
Senior guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) and freshman guard Jake Hill each chipped in with 11 points. All of Pettiford's points came in the second half. Sophomore forward Garrett Gaffner (Breese, IL/Breese Central) pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds for the Bearcats, while sophomore guard Mike Springs (Waukegan, IL/Waukegan) matched Rakers with three assists.
 
Maryville raced to a 10-4 lead in the opening minutes before McKendree ripped off nine consecutive points to build a 13-10 advantage with 12:41 remaining in the first half. Senior forward Ian Ridge (Flora, IL/Flora) capped the run with consecutive lay-ups to give the Bearcats their biggest lead of the night. The Saints then took the lead for good by reeling off 10 straight points, taking a 20-13 lead at the 8:57 mark.
 
McKendree trailed 30-24 at the half, but netted the first five points of the second period on a jumper in the lane by Gaffner and a three-pointer from Pettiford to pull within 30-29. Maryville slowly stretched its lead, and took its biggest advantage at 48-36 following a three-pointer from Asa Toney with 11:07 to play.
 
One more time, McKendree battled back, and pulled within 55-51 on a short jumper by Springs with 2:33 on the clock. A tip-in by Gerald Shaw with 1:20 remaining pushed the Saints back in front by six, and a lay-up and free throw from Toney on the Saints' next trip down the floor helped seal the win for Maryville.
 
Toney led all players with 18 points for Maryville. Shawn netted 16 points and grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds, while Mike Ford added 13 for the Saints.