Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 13)—The McKendree University men's basketball team saw its season-opening five-game win streak come to an end Saturday with a 71-62 loss at home against Trevecca Nazarene University.
 
The Bearcats trimmed a 15-point deficit in the second half down to just two points, but the visiting Trojans used a late 10-0 run to pull away for the victory. McKendree slips to 5-1 overall and will close out the first portion of its 2014-15 season Tuesday with a non-conference game at Central State University. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET in Wilberforce, Ohio.
 
McKendree received a strong effort from its bench as sophomore guard Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) led the way with a career-high 15 points, and senior forward Arthur Williams (Cairo, IL/Cairo) posted season-high totals of 13 points and 13 rebounds to show the way for the Bearcats. Williams had seven of his game-high 13 rebounds on the offensive end for McKendree. Junior guard John Murphy (Peoria, IL/Richwoods) added nine points, and junior forward Brandon Book (Albers, IL/Breese Central) chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds in the contest for the Bearcats.
 
Trevecca Nazarene (5-6) held a 39-32 lead at the half, then quickly stretched the margin to 52-37 with 14:19 remaining. McKendree began to chip away at the deficit and used an 8-0 run rally within 54-49 at the 10:39 mark. The Trojans held the Bearcats at bay until an offensive rebound and basket by Williams with 5:46 to play helped pull McKendree within 61-59.
 
The layup by Williams turned out to be the Bearcats' last field goal of the afternoon as Trevecca Nazarene went on its decisive run. The Trojans reeled off the next 10 points to extend its lead back to 71-59 with 2:43 on the clock and were able to hold off McKendree to gain a split of the season series between the two teams. The Bearcats had defeated Trevecca Nazarene 90-81 back on Nov. 29 in Nashville, Tenn.
 
In the first half, the teams were tied at 5-5 in the opening moments of play before a 9-2 run gave Trevecca Nazarene the lead for good at 14-7. McKendree battled back and pulled within 30-28 on a layup by Holmes with 4:31 left in the period. The Trojans eventually built a nine-point advantage late in the period before Williams hit a shot in the lane on the Bearcats' last possession of the first half to bring McKendree within 39-32 at the half.
 
For the game, Trevecca Nazarene shot 13-of-28 from three-point range. Tyrell Corlew scored all 14 of its points in the first half for the Trojans, while Jacob Williams came off the bench to add 14 points in the win. Byron Sanford narrowly missed a triple-double for Trevecca Nazarene with nine points, nine rebounds and a game-high nine assists.