Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 20)—The McKendree University men's basketball team rallied from a 16-point deficit midway through the second half to post a 102-100 victory Monday night at home against the University of Illinois Springfield.
 
There were plenty of heroes as the Bearcats earned their first Great Lakes Valley Conference victory of the season. Junior guard Mike DiGregorio (Morton Grove, IL/Niles Notre Dame) poured in a career-high 30 points to lead the way for McKendree. Senior guard Clinton Happe (Evansville, IN/F.J. Reitz) netted 23 points and hit the game-tying three-pointer with 6.9 seconds left in regulation to force the extra period. Junior guard Mike Springs (Waukegan, IL/Waukegan) dished out a season-high 10 assists in the win.
 
With his 23 points, Happe becomes the 48^th player in McKendree history to score 1,000 points in his career. Happe hit the mark with a driving reverse lay-up with 16:57 remaining in the second half. He now has 1,012 points and is the first McKendree player to reach the milestone since John Steppe (Effingham, IL/St. Anthony) joined the Bearcats' 1,000-point club in November 2012.
 
In addition, McKendree head coach Harry Statham picked up career win No. 1,075 with the Bearcats' come-from-behind effort. Statham, who is in his 48^th season as the head coach at McKendree, is 1,075-441 overall.
 
McKendree moves to 7-7 overall and is now 1-5 in conference play. The Bearcats will continue their home stand Thursday when Saint Joseph's College comes to the Harry M. Statham Sports Center for the GLVC contest. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
After leading 44-40 at the half, Illinois Springfield (5-10, 1-6 GLVC) slowly stretched its lead in the early stages of the second half, and took its largest lead of the night at 73-57 on a lay-up by Regan Bruenger with 9:55 left in regulation. McKendree scored seven of the next eight points to pull within 74-64, but the Prairie Stars were able to maintain a double-digit lead heading into the final five minutes of play.
 
A three-pointer from Happe keyed a 9-0 run that helped the Bearcats pull within 85-84 with just over three minutes left in the second half. UIS was able to hold off McKendree until a pair of free throws by DiGregorio at the 1:23 mark tied the game at 89-89. The Prairie Stars quickly regained the lead on a lay-up by Mark Weems on their next possession, and the lead grew to 93-90 when Bruenger hit two free throws with 13.6 seconds on the clock.
 
McKendree was able to work the ball to Happe, who hit a 23-foot shot from the right wing with 6.9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 93-93. Illinois Springfield was off the mark on its final shot attempt in regulation to force the Bearcats' second overtime game of the season.
 
In the extra period, DiGregorio hit a free throw on the first possession to give McKendree a 94-93 lead. UIS countered with a pair of free throws to regain the advantage at 95-94 lead. That turned out to be the Prairie Stars' final lead of the night as junior forward Matt Holmes (Houston, TX/Marshall) threw down a dunk at the 3:33 mark to push the Bearcats back in front, 96-95. McKendree was then able to increase its lead at the free throw as Holmes and sophomore forward Brandon Drum (Peoria, IL/Dunlap) each sank two foul shots as the lead grew to 100-96 for the Bearcats.
 
UIS tied the game one final time at 100-100 on two free throws by Bruenger with 15.8 seconds to play. Springs drove the lane on McKendree's final possession and was fouled with 2.3 seconds left. He sank both attempts to give the Bearcats a two-point lead. The Prairie Stars inbounded the ball to Kentrell King, who missed a running three-point attempt from 35 feet away as time expired to give McKendree the win.
 
Senior forward Will Kirksey (St. Louis, MO/Lafayette) added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Bearcats, while Holmes finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
 
Five players scored in double figures for Illinois Springfield, led by a 27-point effort from Dylan Sparkman. Bruenger chipped in with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Jamall Millison came off the bench to post 12 points for the Prairie Stars.
 
McKendree and Illinois Springfield meet again in the regular-season finale for each team on Feb. 27 in Springfield, Ill.