Box Score
BOX SCORE

(ST. CHARLES, Mo., Jan. 14)—The McKendree University used one of its best defensive performances of the season along with a solid offensive showing in posting a 90-38 victory Saturday against Central Christian College of the Bible Saturday afternoon in St. Charles, Mo. The Bearcats were playing in the Texas Roadhouse Classic hosted by Lindenwood University.
 
McKendree limited the Saints to just 30.2 percent shooting on the day (13-of-43) and converted 24 Central Christian turnovers into 39 points during the win. The Bearcats' defense also set a new season-low for points allowed and held the Saints without a point for more than 11 minutes in one second-half stretch. With the win, McKendree improved to 12-9 on the season.
 
Offensively, McKendree shot a season-best 60 percent from the field (39-of-65), including a 71 percent clip in the second half. Nine of the 10 players who saw action for the Bearcats scored, including a team-high 16 points from senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin). Senior guard Kyle Heckert (Venedy, IL/Okawville) (Venedy, Ill./Okawville) and senior forward Ian Ridge (Flora, IL/Flora) (Flora, Ill./Flora) each chipped in with 13 points. Ridge matched a career-best with his 13 points while adding a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Junior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) connected for 11 points, while junior forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) helped out with 10 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Drew Dudek (Pinckneyville, IL/Pinckneyville) (Pinckneyville, Ill./Pinckneyville) led the Bearcats with three assists.
 
McKendree led from the outset, opening the contest on a 15-2 run in the first five minutes of action. Central Christian (4-13) chipped away at the deficit, coming as close at 24-15 at the 8:17 mark before the Bearcats built the lead back to 36-21 at the intermission.
 
Over the first six minutes of the second half, the Bearcats outscored the Saints 15-5 to stretch its margin to 53-26. Following a lay-up by Central Christian's Kris Holford with 13:55 remaining, McKendree then put the clamps down defensively. The Bearcats held the Saints scoreless over the next 11:05 while reeling off 33 unanswered points. Ridge capped the scoring spree on a lay-up with 3:20 left to give McKendree an 86-58 advantage.
 
The Bearcats' bench also had a productive day, outscoring the Central Christian reserves by a margin of 29-3. In addition to holding the Saints to just 38 points, the 52-point margin of victory was the largest of the season for McKendree.
 
Holford posted a double-double for Central Christian with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jerrell Harvey added eight points for the Saints, who did not record an assist in the contest.
 
McKendree will return to action Thursday with a road contest at Robert Morris University-Springfield. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.