Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 16)—The McKendree University men's basketball team suffered its first home loss of the 2013-14 season with a 68-64 setback Monday against Trevecca Nazarene University.
 
The Bearcats raced to a 19-2 lead in the first eight minutes of play, but the visiting Trojans battled back to grab the lead late in the first half then held off McKendree down the stretch to post the non-conference win. McKendree had its three-game win streak snapped with Monday's loss. The Bearcats slip to 5-2 on the year and will play host to Benedictine University-Springfield Friday at 7 p.m. in the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
Senior forward Will Kirksey (St. Louis, MO/Lafayette) registered a season-high 22 points and added seven rebounds to lead the offense for McKendree. Junior guard Mike DiGregorio (Morton Grove, IL/Niles Notre Dame) helped out with 14 points and three assists, while junior forward Matt Holmes (Houston, TX/Marshall) posted a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Bearcats. Senior guard Clinton Happe (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) finished with nine points and a game-high four assists in the contest.
 
After Trevecca Nazarene scored the first two points of the game, McKendree ripped off 19 unanswered points to build its 17-point lead with 12:07 left in the opening period. A lay-up and free throw by DiGregorio at the 17:46 mark pushed the Bearcats in front at 4-2. All five starters scored during the opening burst for McKendree, led by six points each from DiGregorio and Kirksey.
 
The Trojans then held McKendree without a point over the next four minutes as they scored seven straight points to pull within 19-9. Trevecca Nazarene continued to chip away at its deficit and outscored the Bearcats 15-4 over the final 4:24 of the half to take a 34-32 lead at the intermission.
 
Midway through the second half, Trevecca Nazarene took its largest lead of the night at 46-40 on a jumper by Jordan Bedwell. McKendree responded with a 10-2 run to take a 50-48 lead with 8:03 remaining. Back-to-back three-pointers from DiGregorio and Happe closed the spurt. The Trojans regained the lead by scoring the next five points to take a 53-50 advantage.
 
Happe gave McKendree its final lead of the night on a three-point field goal with 4:08 to play, giving the Bearcats a 60-58 lead. Once again, a 5-0 run from Trevecca Nazarene put the Trojans in front at 63-60. Kirksey scored on a lay-up to bring McKendree within 63-62, but Trevecca Nazarene was able to hold on down the stretch to claim the win.
 
David Woodard led Trevecca Nazarene (5-6) with 17 points, while Slay Chol scored nine of his 11 points in the first half for the Trojans. Nick Drake connected for 10 points, and Jordan Miles flirted with a double-double by adding eight points and a team-best eight rebounds for the Trojans.
 
The win enabled Trevecca Nazarene to gain a split of the season series with McKendree. The Bearcats claimed an 84-80 win in Nashville, Tenn., back on Nov. 30.