Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., January 17)—The McKendree University men's basketball team opened up a three-game home stand with an 82-61 loss Thursday to Lewis University at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
The visiting Flyers connected on 18-of-25 shots from the field in the second half (72 percent) to pull away in the final 20 minutes to register the Great Lakes Valley Conference victory. The loss pushes McKendree to 7-8 overall and 1-4 in GLVC play. The Bearcats will continue their home stand when the University of Wisconsin-Parkside comes to Lebanon for another league contest. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.
 
Junior guard Clinton Happe (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) had 14 of his game-high 22 points to lead the scoring attack for McKendree. Senior forward John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) finished the night with 14 points and team-high totals of seven rebounds and five assists. Sophomore guard Mike DiGregorio (Morton Grove, IL/Niles Notre Dame) chipped in with 13 points.
 
McKendree controlled the tempo and the lead for the majority of the first half as they never trailed in the period. The Bearcats led by as many as nine points, which came at 24-15 following a three-pointer from DiGregorio with 9:54 left in the half. Lewis (9-4, 3-2 GLVC) answered with a 12-3 run over the next four minutes to pull even at 27-27.
 
On the Bearcats' next possession, freshman guard A.J. Schmidt (New Albany, IN/New Albany) drained a three-pointer from the wing to push McKendree back in front, 30-27, with 5:29 remaining in the half. The Bearcats stretched the lead to as many as five points down the stretch before the Flyer pulled within 38-37 at the intermission.
 
The lead changed hands three times in the early stages of the second half before McKendree surged out to its largest lead of the period. Happe scored five straight points – thanks to a pair of free throws following a technical foul on the Lewis bench and a three-pointer on the ensuing possession – gave the Bearcats a 47-43 advantage with 17:35 remaining. The Flyers responded by scoring the next five points before Steppe scored on a driving lay-up at the 15:13 mark to give McKendree its final lead of the contest at 49-48.
 
From there, Lewis took control. The Flyers went on a 17-5 run over the next five-plus minutes to build a 65-54 advantage with just under 10 minutes remaining. Lewis slowly increased its margin and pulled away in the closing minutes, holding McKendree without a point over the final 5:08 of play.
 
Ryan Jackson led Lewis with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Julian Lewis contributed 16 points and six rebounds, while Jeff Jarosz posted 13 points and three steals for the Flyers. McKendree and Lewis will meet again on Feb. 16 in Romeoville, Ill.
 
Thursday's game marked the first meeting on the basketball court between McKendree and Lewis since the 1975-76 season. That year, the Bearcats and Flyers split a two-game series, with each team winning on its home floor.