Box Score
BOX SCORE

(ST. CHARLES, Mo., Jan. 13)—The McKendree University men's basketball team was defeated by Central State University on Friday evening in the opening game of the Texas Roadhouse Classic in St. Charles, Mo., 79-63. The two-day event is being hosted by Lindenwood University at Hyland Arena.
 
The Bearcats cut an 11-point halftime deficit down to just five points midway through the second half, but the Marauders used an 11-1 run to take control of the contest. McKendree slips to 11-9 on the season and will look to bounce back in the win column Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. against Central Christian College (Mo.) in the Texas Roadhouse Classic.
 
Senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) paced a balanced attack for McKendree with 14 points, while senior guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) (Florissant, Mo./Christian Brothers) contributed 13 points. Junior forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) added 12 points and a team-leading nine rebounds for the Bearcats.
 
McKendree grabbed the lead in the early moments of play, taking an 8-4 advantage on a lay-up by senior forward Ian Ridge (Flora, IL/Flora) (Flora, Ill./Flora) with 16:18 left in the opening half. Central State (9-5) battled back and used a 7-2 run to grab the lead for good, 17-13, with just over 11 minutes remaining in the period. The Bearcats pulled back within two points before a 13-3 spurt helped the Marauders push their lead to double digits at 30-18.
 
Central State led by as many as 13 points before taking a 38-27 lead into the locker room. McKendree converted on its first two possessions of the second half to pull within seven, but the Marauders quickly regained a double-digit lead and threatened to pull away in the early stages of the period.
 
A lay-up by senior guard Kyle Heckert (Venedy, IL/Okawville) (Venedy, Ill./Okawville) at the 12:33 mark brought McKendree back within nine points and sparked a 10-4 run that enabled the Bearcats to rally one more time. Pettiford capped the burst with a lay-up and free throw with 11:15 on the clock to cut the deficit to 57-52.
 
On its next possession, Central State misfired on two shots, but Greg Rice grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to put the Marauders back out in front by seven points. That started Central State's decisive run, which ended on a basket by TeAllen Price with just over six minutes left to give the Marauders a 68-53 advantage.
 
Rice dropped in a game-high 28 points and added four steals to lead the way for Central State. Lee Tabb came off the bench to post a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Marauders.
 
The game marked the first meeting between McKendree and Central State since the opening round of the 2000 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship in Tulsa, Okla. The Marauders outlasted the Bearcats in that contest, 88-79.