Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., January 3)—Playing in its first-ever game as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the McKendree University men's basketball team was defeated by the University of Illinois Springfield on Thursday by a score of 69-66.
 
The Bearcats trailed by eight points with just over four minutes remaining, but cut the deficit to three points and had a shot to tie the contest in the final seconds. A potential game-tying three-point shot by senior forward John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) was just off the mark with six seconds remaining, and the visiting Prairie Stars were able to run out the clock to come away with the victory.
 
McKendree slips to 6-5 on the year and 0-1 in GLVC play. The Bearcats will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host Quincy University in another GLVC match-up. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at the Statham Center.
 
Steppe posted team-high totals of 20 points, six rebounds and five assists in leading the way for McKendree. Freshman forward Matt Murphy (Jerseyville, IL/Jersey Community) chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds along with a game-high three blocks, while sophomore guard Mike DiGregorio (Morton Grove, IL/Niles Notre Dame) added 12 points in the effort. Junior guard Clinton Happe (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) netted 10 points on the night for the Bearcats.
 
Illinois Springfield (3-7, 1-1 GLVC) opened up a 27-19 lead midway through the first half before McKendree battled back. A three-pointer from Steppe ignited a 10-0 that pushed the Bearcats in front for the first time on the night, 29-27, with 6:36 remaining in the period. Steppe had the first six points of the spurt before DiGregorio added a jumper and driving lay-up during the stretch.
 
McKendree forged a three-point lead two more times the rest of the half, but Illinois Springfield managed to tie the contest on six different occasions during that span. The Bearcats led 40-37 in the final minute before a basket and free throw by Regan Bruenger knotted the score at 40-40 heading into the intermission.
 
Early in the second half, Murphy hit a mid-range jumper and three-pointer to give McKendree its final lead of the night at 45-42 with 17:56 on the clock. The Prairie Stars responded by scoring the next eight points as part of a 13-2 run to regain a 54-47 advantage. UIS stretched the margin to as many as eight points before the Bearcats made one final push. A pair of free throws from Steppe capped a 7-0 spurt that brought McKendree within 58-57 at the 8:57 mark.
 
Illinois Springfield built its lead back to eight points at 67-59 with 4:09 left. Consecutive jumpers by Murphy trimmed the deficit to 67-63, but a lay-up by Bruenger at the 2:47 mark stretched the lead back to 69-63. A three-pointer from Steppe 11 seconds later accounted for the final points of the night, although McKendree had three more possessions with a chance to tie.
 
Dusko Despot came off the bench to lead a balanced attack for Illinois Springfield with 13 points. West Dawson added 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while Kyle Gupton chipped in with 10 points in a reserve role for the Prairie Stars.
 
McKendree and Illinois Springfield formerly competed against each other when the schools were members of the American Midwest Conference in the NAIA. Despite the loss on Thursday, McKendree holds an 11-7 edge in the all-time series with Illinois Springfield.