Box Score
BOX SCORE

(BABSON PARK, Fla., Jan. 6)—The McKendree University men's basketball team dropped a 62-57 decision Friday night on the road at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla.
 
The Bearcats made just 7-of-18 free throw attempts for 38.9 percent in the five-point loss to the Warriors. McKendree slips to 10-8 on the season and will wrap up its week-long stay Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. The Bearcats played in Embry-Riddle's Bahama House/Best Western Aku Tiki Classic earlier in the week.
 
Junior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) paced McKendree with 19 points, while senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) and junior forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) each connected for 14 points in the contest. Senior guard Kyle Heckert (Venedy, IL/Okawville) pulled down a team-leading 10 rebounds for the Bearcats. Heckert and sophomore guard Mike Springs (Waukegan, IL/Waukegan) each dished out a team-best five assists.
 
Steppe hit a three-pointer on the Bearcats' second possession of the night to give McKendree a 3-0 lead. From there, Webber International (6-5) reeled off six consecutive points to grab the lead for good. The Warriors eventually built an eight-point cushion at 21-13. McKendree responded by scoring the next five points, including a lay-up from Rakers at the 7:09 mark, to rally within 21-18. Ruckman sliced the deficit to 25-24 thanks to a short jumper by Ruckman with just over four minutes to play in the half.
 
Webber International then held McKendree to just one field goal the remainder of the half, using a 10-4 spurt to regain a 35-28 advantage at the intermission.
 
The Bearcats scored the first six points of the second half to pull within 35-34 and eventually drew even at 37-37 on a free throw by sophomore forward Garrett Gaffner (Breese, IL/Breese Central) with 12:25 to go. Webber International then sandwiched consecutive three-pointers by Tyler Auerbacher around a field goal by senior guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) to extend its lead back to 43-39.
 
With just under six minutes to play, McKendree faced a nine-point deficit. The Bearcats chipped away at the margin and came within 59-56 as Rakers made one of two free throws with just under a minute to go. After a Webber International turnover, Steppe was fouled driving to the basket, and he also hit one of two foul shots to slash the deficit to 59-57.
 
Luke Marler made one of two free throws with 18 seconds on the clock to push the Warriors back out to a three-point lead. McKendree called its final timeout with 10.3 seconds left to set up a final play, but Marler forced a turnover and was fouled with 3.9 seconds remaining. He hit both free throws to seal the victory for Webber International.
 
David Marlar scored a team-high 19 points for Webber International, while Gabriel Rutledge hauled in a game-high 21 rebounds for the Warriors.