GAME DAY LINKS -- McKENDREE vs. ROBERT MORRIS-PEORIA -- WATCH LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network) | LIVE STATS
McKENDREE vs. TREVECCA NAZARENE -- LISTEN LIVE (Bearcat Sports Network) | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 26)--It's been nearly two weeks since the McKendree University men's basketball team opened its 2014-15 regular season schedule (and nine days since their last game action), but the Bearcats return to the court with two games during the Thanksgiving break, beginning with Wednesday night's tilt at home against Robert Morris University-Peoria. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
McKendree will have two games over a four-day span. The Bearcats will officially hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday when they travel to Nashville, Tenn., for a non-conference match-up with Trevecca Nazarene University. Both games will be carried live on the Bearcat Sports Network, with live video of the home game versus Robert Morris-Peoria, and live audio of the McKendree/Trevecca Nazarene contest.
Back on Nov. 14, McKendree tipped off its season with a 74-45 victory at home against Robert Morris University-Springfield. The Bearcats used a big second half -- shooting 60 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes -- to pull away for the victory.
Brandon Book (Albers, IL/Breese Central) led the way with 16 points and eight rebounds, while
Matt Holmes (Houston, TX/Marshall) contributed 12 points and seven rebounds in the effort.
Logan Carson (DuQuoin, IL/DuQuoin) and
Chad McDowell (Louisville, KY/Pleasure Ridge Park) each added 11 points for the Bearcats as Carson grabbed a game-high nine rebounds in the win. McKendree held a 47-26 edge in rebounding over the Eagles in the season-opening win.
The Bearcats' last game action came on Nov. 17 with a 78-68 exhibition loss at NCAA Division I Loyola University-Chicago. Both teams shot 60 percent or better in the second half as the host Ramblers built a 37-27 lead at the intermission. The squads played even in the second half as McKendree pulled to within eight points late in the contest. Holmes led a balanced scoring atack for the Bearcats wtih 14 points, while Book netted 11 of his 13 points in the second half. Carson helped out with 12 points and McDowell notched eight of his 10 points in the opening period.
John Murphy (Peoria, IL/Richwoods) pulled down a team-best seven rebounds against Loyola.
Robert Morris-Peoria comes to Lebanon in search of its first win of the 2014-15 season. The Eagles are 0-4 overall following an 84-70 loss at home against Morthland College on Monday. RMU-Peoria is coached by Bobby Ford.
Trevecca Nazarene brings a 1-4 overall record into Saturday's meeting with McKendree. The Trojans have had a heavy dose of Great Lakes Valley Conference opponents early in the 2014-15 season, with four of their first five regular-season games coming against GLVC schools. Trevecca Nazarene has already faced Maryville University, Truman State University, the University of Illinois Springfield and Missouri S & T out of the GLVC.
On Tuesday, Trevecca Nazarene was stopped at home by Missouri S & T, 88-78. Six different players scored in double figures for the Trojans, led by a 17-point effort from Junior wing Christopher Elliott. Junior guard Tyrell Corlew added 13 points as junior guard Jalen Palm came off the bench to post 12 points. Junior post Matt Gamberoni registered a double-double for Trevecca Nazarene with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Byron Sanford, who had 11 points and six assists against Missouri S & T, leads Trevecca Nazarene in scoring at 13.2 points per game. Sanford has also collected 15 steals for the Trojans. Corlew (12.8 PPG) and Palm (12.2 PPG) also average in double figures for the Trojans, while Gamberoni leads the team in rebounding at 7.4 caroms per contest.
McKendree and Trevecca Nazarene met twice during the 2013-14 season, with each team winning on the road. The Bearcats posted an 84-80 victory in Nashville last Nov. 30, while the Trojans returned the favor with a 68-64 triumph on Dec. 16, 2013 at the Statham Center.
