Box Score (RENSSELAER, Ind., Jan. 26)—The McKendree University men's basketball team was defeated in Great Lakes Valley Conference play Saturday afternoon at Saint Joseph's College, 99-80.
 
Sophomore guard Mike DiGregorio (Morton Grove, IL/Niles Notre Dame) matched a career-high by posting 26 points to lead the way for McKendree. Junior guard Clinton Happe (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) chipped in with 20 points as the Bearcats slipped to 7-12 overall and 1-8 in the GLVC. Senior guard John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) helped out with 13 points and team-high totals of nine rebounds and five assists, while freshman forward Matt Murphy (Jerseyville, IL/Jersey Community) connected for 14 points in the effort for McKendree.
 
The Bearcats will close out a three-game road swing Thursday with a trip to Owensboro, Ky., to face Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Panthers are currently ranked No. 3 in the latest NABC/NCAA Division II poll. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Saint Joseph's (5-11, 3-6 GLVC) raced to a 14-4 lead in the first three minutes of play. McKendree battled back to within six points on two different occasions, the last coming at 19-13 following a jumper by Happe with 13:23 left in the first half. The Pumas were able to maintain their advantage, then used an 11-3 run to stretch its lead to 45-29 with just under four minutes remaining in the half. Saint Joseph's shot 63.6 percent from the field (21-of-33) on its way to a 53-38 lead at the intermission.
 
In the first four minutes of the second half, Saint Joseph's outscored McKendree 6-2 to extend its margin to 59-40. The Pumas eventually pushed their lead to as many as 21 points in pulling away for the league win. The closest the Bearcats would come was at 70-56 on a lay-u6 by Happe with 10:57 remaining.
 
Thirteen different players scored in the contest for Saint Joseph's, led by a 25-point effort off the bench by Damon Ellison. Ryan Rebholz contributed 15 points, while D.J. Martinez added 13 points for the Pumas. Michael Lipton pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for Saint Joseph's, which was facing McKendree for the first time on the basketball court.
 
The teams will meet again Feb. 7 at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in Lebanon.