Box Score
BOX SCORE

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 4)—The McKendree University men's basketball team built a 28-point halftime lead on its way to a 77-55 victory Wednesday over Central Christian College in the Bahama House/Best Western Aku Tiki Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University served as the host of the two-day event.
 
Senior guard Kyle Heckert (Venedy, IL/Okawville) scored 12 of his team-high 18 points in the first half to lead the way for McKendree, which improved to 10-7 on the season. Heckert was just two off his career high of 20 points set earlier this season against Mid-Continent University. Junior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) chipped in with 17 points while senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) added 11 points, five rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in the effort for the Bearcats.
 
Junior forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) also reached double figures in the scoring column for McKendree with 10 points. He also had five rebounds. Sophomore guard Mike Springs (Waukegan, IL/Waukegan) dished out a game-high seven assists against the Tigers.
 
McKendree took control quickly in the game's opening minutes, using a run of 15 consecutive points to grab a 17-2 lead the Bearcats would not relinquish. McKendree also put together spurt of 9-0 and 11-3 in extending its lead to 45-17 at the half. The Bearcats limited Central Christian to just 20 percent shooting (6-of-30) in the opening period and forced 10 Tiger turnovers.
 
The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes before McKendree ripped off 15 points in a row to take its 17-2 lead. The Bearcats made five of its seven shots during the stretch, which included four points each from Ruckman and sophomore forward Garrett Gaffner (Breese, IL/Breese Central). Steppe capped the run with a driving lay-up and free throw at the 12:51 mark to give McKendree its 15-point advantage.
 
After Central Christian (9-4) trimmed the deficit to 12 points, McKendree reeled off another nine straight points to extend its lead to 31-12 with 6:08 left in the half. Heckert provided six of the nine points during the stretch for the Bearcats. Gaffner then punctuated McKendree's 11-3 run to end the half with a basket just before the first-half buzzer and a free throw to give the Bearcats a 45-17 lead at the intermission.
 
McKendree maintained its lead throughout the second half, pushing the margin to as many as 31 points on two different occasions in the period.
 
The Bearcats outscored Central Christian 50-26 in the paint, and also held a 37-18 edge in bench scoring in the contest. All 12 McKendree players saw action against the Tigers, with 10 of them scoring.
 
Chris Jones paced Central Christian with 18 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots. Randall Conley posted 16 points for the Tigers, who dropped their second game in as many nights in the Bahama House/Best Western Aku Tiki Classic.
 
The Bearcats will resume their four-game road trip through the state of Florida on Friday at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) when they travel to Babson Park, Fla., to take on Webber International University. McKendree will return to Daytona Beach for its final game of the road swing on Saturday to face Embry-Riddle.