Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 18)—The McKendree University men's basketball team came up just short of collecting its first Great Lakes Valley Conference of the season, falling to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday afternoon at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center, 75-71.
 
The Bearcats trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second half, but fought back and pulled to within one possession three different times in the final minute of play. But the visiting Rangers – who entered the day as the only team with an undefeated record in GLVC play – hit four free throws over the final 36.7 seconds to hold on for the victory.
 
McKendree, now 6-7 overall and 0-5 in conference action, will continue its five-game home stand Monday night when the University of Illinois Springfield comes to Lebanon for the GLVC tilt. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Statham Center.
 
Senior guard Clinton Happe (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to lead the way for McKendree. Happe also added a season-best six rebounds against Wisconsin-Parkside. Junior guard Mike DiGregorio (Morton Grove, IL/Niles Notre Dame) also had a big second half for the Bearcats, netting 15 of his 17 points in the final period. Junior forward Matt Holmes (Houston, TX/Marshall) also hit the double-digit mark in the scoring column with 10 points, while junior forward Arthur Williams (Cairo, IL/Cairo) hauled in a game-high 14 rebounds for McKendree, which held a 41-33 edge on the boards in the contest.
 
After leading 39-27 at the half, Wisconsin-Parkside (13-2, 6-0 GLVC) scored on its first possession of the second half to take its largest lead of the day at 41-27. The Bearcats chipped away at the deficit midway through the period and used a 9-0 run to pull within 57-54 with 9:29 remaining. A lay-up by Williams started the burst, which was followed by a Holmes dunk off a missed shot. DiGregorio added a three-pointer before Happe sank two free throws to cap the run.
 
The Rangers appeared to be pulling away once again after Jordan Mach hit a three-pointer with 2:54 on the clock to stretch the UWP advantage to 68-59. McKendree battled back once again, and DiGregorio made two free throws to cut the deficit to 71-66 with 47 seconds left. Happe then stole the inbounds pass and scored seconds later to help the Bearcats rally within 71-68. After the teams traded free throws, DiGregorio scored on a driving lay-up with 18.7 seconds on the clock to bring McKendree within 73-71.
 
Andy Mazurczak sealed the win for Wisconsin-Parkside after he was fouled and hit a pair of foul shots with 8.7 seconds to play, giving the Rangers a four-point lead. The Bearcats missed a pair of shots in the closing seconds as UWP escaped with the win.
 
Mazurczak and Zygimantas Riauka shared team-high scoring honors for Wisconsin-Parkside with 16 points each. Riauka also added team-high totals of eight rebounds and six blocked shots in the contest, while Mazurczak dished out a game-high nine assists. Mach chipped in with 15 points for UWP.
 
With his 20 points, Happe now needs 11 points to become the newest member of the Bearcats' 1,000-point club. Former teammate John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) was the last player to enter the exclusive club for McKendree, hitting the mark in November 2012.
 
McKendree and Wisconsin-Parkside will meet one more time this season on Feb. 20 in Somers, Wis.