Box Score
BOX SCORE

(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 25)—The McKendree University men's basketball team was defeated by the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday night in the first round of the D-II Vegas Showdown in Las Vegas, Nev., 86-71.
 
Junior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) (Effingham, Ill./St. Anthony) equaled a career-high by leading all scorers with 23 points in the contest. Senior forward Sean Rakers (New Baden, IL/Wesclin) (New Baden, Ill./Wesclin) and junior forward David Ruckman (Freeburg, IL/Freeburg) (Freeburg, Ill./Freeburg) each added 10 points as the Bearcats dropped to 17-12 overall. McKendree will close out its 2011-12 season Sunday evening with a game against Minot State University in the final match-up of the D-II Vegas Showdown. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. PST (10 p.m. CST).
 
McKendree struggled from the field in the first half, hitting just 28.6 percent of its attempts (6-of-21) as Sioux Falls built a 41-24 lead at the intermission. The Bearcats were within 16-14 midway through the period before a 12-4 run enabled the Cougars to stretch its margin to 28-18 with just under six minutes left in the period. McKendree was held without a field goal over the final 5:28 of the half as Sioux Falls continued to increase its lead.
 
Sioux Falls (17-8) maintained its double-digit advantage throughout the second half while shooting 56.3 percent from the floor (18-of-32) in the final 20 minutes. McKendree pulled within 11 points at 82-71 on a pair of free throws by Steppe with 1:42 on the clock. The foul shots capped Steppe's 23-point outburst that matched his career-high set back on Dec. 6 at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
 
Senior forward Ian Ridge (Flora, IL/Flora) (Flora, Ill./Flora) came off the bench to pull down a game-high eight rebounds for the Bearcats. Ruckman added seven rebounds while senior guard Kyle Heckert (Venedy, IL/Okawville) (Venedy, Ill./Okawville) added six caroms.
 
Although McKendree shot just 38.6 percent from the field, the Bearcats made a season-high 34 free throws against Sioux Falls. McKendree was 34-of-47 from the foul line. The Bearcats also held a 39-30 edge on the boards against the Cougars.
 
With his 10 points, Rakers surged past Darrell Flake (1,499 points) and Rich Herrin (1,502 points) for 22^nd place on the Bearcats' all-time scoring list. Rakers will take 1,507 points into the final game of his collegiate career against Minot State. Heckert, Ridge and guard Karrington Pettiford (Florissant, MO/Christian Brothers) (Florissant, Mo./Christian Brothers) will join Rakers as they wrap up their McKendree careers.
 
Six different players scored in double figures for Sioux Falls, led by Derek Brown's 16 points. Brown also grabbed a team-best six rebounds. Skyler Bloch chipped in with 14 points and six assists for the Cougars.