Box Score (ST. LOUIS, Mo., November 11)—A second-half rally by the McKendree University men's basketball team came up short as the Bearcats dropped an 85-77 decision Sunday afternoon against Ohio Dominican University in the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Challenge at Maryville University.
 
The Bearcats nearly wiped out a 19-point deficit with just under 15 minutes to play in taking the loss. McKendree slips to 0-2 on the season and will be at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., on Wednesday for a non-conference game. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
 
Senior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) poured in a game-high 27 points for McKendree, 17 of which came in the second half. Steppe also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in the contest. Freshman forward Matt Murphy (Jerseyville, IL/Jersey Community) also had a big second half for the Bearcats, netting 13 of his 17 points in the final 20 minutes of play. Junior guard Clinton Happe (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) reached double figures for the second straight contest with 15 points. Steppe and freshman guard A.J. Schmidt (New Albany, IN/New Albany) each dished out five assists.
 
Ohio Dominican (1-1) jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first four minutes of play and increased the margin to 27-11 midway through the period. The Panthers took their largest lead of the half at 37-18 following two free throws by Jordan Cowgill with 3:24 left in the period. McKendree held Ohio Dominican without a point for the final 2:30 of the opening half, using a layup by Happe and a short jumper from Steppe just before the buzzer sounded to pull within 39-25 at the intermission.
 
In the early stages of the second half, Ohio Dominican was able to extend its lead back to 19 points at 53-34 with 14:59 remaining. McKendree started to chip away at the deficit. A 13-3 run helped the Bearcats pull within single digits at 61-54 with 8:47 on the clock. McKendree drilled a trio of three-pointers during the stretch, including two by Happe.
 
The teams traded baskets before an offensive rebound and lay-up by junior forward Josh Ramsey (O'Fallon, IL/Valley Park) and a pair of free throws from Steppe trimmed the margin to 65-61 at the 5:36 mark. Ohio Dominican tried to pull away, building a seven-point advantage before Steppe drained a three-pointer with 2:10 on the clock to bring McKendree within 75-71.
 
That was as close as the Bearcats would get the rest of the contest as the Panthers regrouped and scored the next six points to put the game out of reach.
 
Morgan Jones led Ohio Dominican with 23 points and eight assists, while Bobby Stauffer added 19 points and Mark Minch contributed 16 points. Sunday's win was the first for the Panthers in five meetings against McKendree.
 
With his 27 points, Steppe needs just five points to become the 47^th member of the Bearcats' 1,000-point club.