Box Score (ST. CHARLES, Mo., Feb. 20)—The McKendree University men's basketball team saw its season-high four-game win streak come to an end Monday with a 93-82 loss at Lindenwood University.
 
Junior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) had a big second half for McKendree, scoring 17 of his team-high 19 points in the final 20 minutes of play, to lead a balanced attack for the Bearcats. Steppe also matched a career-high by hitting five three-point field goals against Lindenwood. 

Six of the seven players that scored on the night for McKendree reached double figures as the Bearcats slipped to 17-11 on the year. McKendree will close out its 2011-12 season this weekend in Las Vegas, Nev. as the team will participate in the D-II Vegas Challenge. The Bearcats will face the University of Sioux Falls late Saturday night before wrapping up the year with a Sunday evening contest against Minot State University.
 
After trailing 40-35 at the half, McKendree clawed within four points at 66-62 following a lay-up by senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) with 9:06 to play. The Lions responded by scoring the next seven points to stretch its lead back to double figures. The Bearcats would come as close as eight points the remainder of the contest at 84-76 on a lay-up by Steppe with just over two minutes remaining.
 
Lindenwood (25-3) was able to seal the win at the free throw line, hitting 12-of-13 attempts from the stripe in the second half. For the game, the Lions were 26-of-29 from the foul line (89.7 percent).
 
Both teams were hot from the floor in the final 20 minutes of play, as McKendree connected on 63.3 percent of its attempts (19-of-30) while Lindenwood was equally as torrid at 64.3 percent (18-of-28).
 
There were three ties and five lead changes in the first half. McKendree took its largest lead of the night at 11-8 after a basket by senior forward Ian Ridge (Flora, IL/Flora) (Flora, Ill./Flora) with 14:07 left in the period. Lindenwood answered with an 11-3 run to seize the lead for good, 21-16, with 8:34 remaining in the half.
 
Senior guard Kyle Heckert (Venedy, IL/Okawville) (Venedy, Ill./Okawville) added 14 points for McKendree, while junior forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) had 12 points and senior guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) (Florissant, Mo./Christian Brothers) helped out with 11 points. Pettiford also registered team-high totals of four assists and four steals for the Bearcats.
 
Rakers had 10 points and a team-leading five rebounds, while Ridge came off the bench to post 10 points.
 
Kramer Soderberg scored 19 of his game-high 30 points in the second half to pace the Lions. Garrett Reeg added 18 points and four rebounds, while Alex Bazzell chipped in with 16 points.