Box Score (SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 19)—The McKendree University men's basketball team battled to the finish Monday evening on the road against the University of Illinois Springfield before the host Prairie Stars collected a 67-63 victory over the Bearcats.
McKendree led by as many as nine points in the first half -- and seven in the second half -- before Illinois Springfield used an 18-4 run in the middle stages of the final period to take the lead for good. The Bearcats pulled as close as two points in the final minute before UIS was able to hit two free throws and withstand a last-second rally from McKendree to notch the win.
With the loss, McKendree moves to 8-7 overall and 1-6 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Bearcats will continue their five-game road trip on Thursday when they head east to square off against the University of Indianapolis. Tip-off is set for 7:45 p.m. ET (6:45 p.m. CT).
Sophomore guard
Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) led a group of four McKendree players scoring in double figures with 17 points. Jackson was just one point shy of his career-high of 18 set twice earlier this season. He also had team-high totals of eight rebounds and four assists. Junior forward
John Murphy (Peoria, IL/Richwoods) added 15 points, including a pair of baskets during the Bearcats' late rally.
Senior forward
Matt Holmes (Houston, TX/Marshall) added 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, while senior forward
Logan Carson (DuQuoin, IL/DuQuoin) connected for 10 points and three assists for McKendree.
A fast start pushed McKendree out to a 13-4 lead in the first five-plus minutes of play. The Bearcats were able to maintain that nine-point advantage until Illinois Springfield reeled off 15 consecutive points to grab a 21-16 lead at the 7:54 mark of the first half. The Bearcats responded by scoring 13 of the next 15 points to reclaim the lead at 29-23 with just under three minutes left in the period. Jackson and Carson each had four points during the burst for the Bearcats.
UIS eventually pulled even at 29-29 heading into the intermission before McKendree rode a 9-4 run to a 38-33 lead at the outset of the second half. The Bearcats took their biggest lead of the period at 52-45 following a three-pointer from Carson with 11:55 to play. McKendree hit its first eight shots from the floor in the second half.
At that point, the Prairie Stars began to shut down the Bearcats while regaining the lead for good. McKendree went more than 10 minutes without a field goal while UIS put together its decisive run to take a 63-56 lead with just over two minutes to play. McKendree made one final run, pulling within 63-61 after Murphy drained a long three-point attempt with 1:02 on the clock.
After the teams traded baskets, Illinois Springfield's Davi Austin converted two free throws in a one-and-one situation with 8.7 seconds to play to give the Prairie Stars a four-point lead. McKendree pushed the ball up the floor, but a turnover in the closing seconds ended the comeback bid for the Bearcats.
Jamall Millison posted a game-high 23 points to lead the way for Illinois Springfield (7-8, 1-6 GLVC). Dylan Sparkman added 14 points and team-high totals of five rebounds and four blocked shots for the Prairie Stars.
Monday's game was the first of two meetings between the two programs in 2014-15. The Bearcats and Prairie Stars will tangle in the regular-season finale on Feb. 27 at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in Lebanon.
