Box Score
BOX SCORE

(JACKSON, Tenn., Nov. 25)—The McKendree University men's basketball team was defeated on the road Friday evening by host Union University in the Union Thanksgiving Classic, 74-65.
 
The Bulldogs made 15 of 16 free throws in the second half (93.8 percent) in overcoming a 35-30 McKendree lead at the half. The Bearcats slip to 4-3 overall and will look to rebound Saturday afternoon in the final day of action at the Union Thanksgiving Classic against Freed-Hardeman University. Tip-off the contest is set for 2 p.m.
 
Senior guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) (Florissant, Mo./Christian Brothers) scored 14 of his season-high 21 points for McKendree in the first half. Junior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) chipped in with 14 points, while senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) helped out with nine points and five rebounds for the Bearcats.
 
After Union held a 4-1 lead in the opening minutes, McKendree scored six straight points to grab the lead which it held for the remainder of the half. After missing their first three-point attempt of the game, the Bearcats sank their next five shots from beyond the arc. Steppe drilled consecutive three-pointers to help McKendree grab a 15-8 lead midway through the half. Pettiford hit a pair of three-pointers during the stretch, with sophomore guard Mike Springs (Waukegan, IL/Waukegan) (Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan) capping the run of five in a row for the Bearcats. McKendree hit 5-of-7 three-pointers in the opening half.
 
Union (4-4) jumped out quickly to start the second half, using a 14-4 run over the first four minutes to take the lead for good at 44-39. McKendree stayed close and eventually tied the game one final time at 51-51 on a basket by freshman forward Jake Hill (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) with just over seven minutes left. But the Bulldogs then scored 11 of the next 13 points to pull away.
 
Down the stretch, Union made its final 11 attempts from the free throw line to seal the victory. David Lane, who made six in a row from the stripe in the closing minutes, led the Bulldogs with 18 points. Skyler Vaden and Anthony Freeman, Jr., each chipped in with 15 points.
 
The teams split their regular-season series. McKendree rallied to take a 77-69 decision in the first meeting Nov. 12 at the Melvin Price Convocation Center in Lebanon.