Box Score
BOX SCORE

(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 12)—The McKendree University men's basketball team overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to register a 77-69 win at home Saturday night against Union University in the final game of the 2011 McKendree Classic.
 
Junior forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, while junior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) also chipped in with 15 points as the Bearcats won both games in the McKendree Classic this weekend. McKendree improves to 2-1 on the year and will play its first road game of the 2011-12 season Tuesday at Mid-Continent University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Mayfield, Ky.
 
Saturday's win also enabled McKendree to snap a four-game losing streak against Union. The Bearcats' last victory over the Bulldogs was a 67-66 triumph back on Nov. 29, 2008 in Jackson, Tenn. The teams will meet again on Nov. 25 in the Union Thanksgiving Classic.
 
Union, the No. 22-ranked team in the NAIA Division I pre-season poll, led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but McKendree made a late run at the Bulldogs. The Bearcats scored eight of the final nine points of the period to pull within 33-30 at the intermission. Senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) had six of the Bearcats' points during the stretch.
 
To start the second half, Union (2-2) used an 11-2 burst in the first 2:13 of play to build its largest lead of the night at 44-32. From that point, McKendree started to chip away at the deficit. A basket and free throw from Ruckman ignited a 12-4 run to bring the Bearcats within 48-44. McKendree eventually pulled even at 49-49 on a jumper by sophomore guard Mike Springs (Waukegan, IL/Waukegan) (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan) at the 11:22 mark.
 
The teams battled back and forth until Steppe drilled a three-pointer and Ruckman added a lay-up on consecutive possessions to push McKendree in front 65-60 with 5:36 on the clock. Union came as close as 69-68 on a three-pointer by Antoine Hall, but the Bearcats' defense took over from there. McKendree held the Bulldogs without a field goal over the final three minutes, closing the contest on an 8-1 run.
 
In addition to his 15 points, Ruckman pulled down a team-best nine rebounds. Senior guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) (Florissant, Mo./Christian Brothers) helped out with 13 points and six rebounds for McKendree, while Rakers notched 10 points. Pettiford, Rakers and Springs were all named to the All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the game.
 
Skyler Vaden led all players with 19 points for Union, while Hall finished with 14 points. Anthony Freeman posted a double-double for the Bulldogs with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.