Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 8)—Despite a career-high 27 points from senior guard/forward Logan Carson (DuQuoin, IL/DuQuoin), the McKendree University men's basketball team was defeated at home on Thursday evening by Truman State University, 75-71.
 
Carson made his first nine shots from the field and finished 12-of-16 from the floor, adding a 3-for-3 effort from the foul line in the contest for the Bearcats. McKendree moves to 6-4 on the year and 0-3 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Bearcats will look to get back on track Saturday afternoon when they host Quincy University in another GLVC contest. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
 
Senior forward Arthur Williams (Cairo, IL/Cairo) added a double-double for McKendree with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while junior forward Brandon Book (Albers, IL/Breese Central) and sophomore guard Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) each had nine points. Sophomore guard Kyle Yates (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) notched career-high totals of seven points, four rebounds and three steals in the contest for the Bearcats.
 
After trailing McKendree 36-34 at the intermission, Truman State rallied to take the lead in the middle stages of the second half and used a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the night at 67-59 with 4:17 to play. A lay-up by Jackson and a three-pointer from Book, sandwiched around a Bulldogs' basket, helped trim the deficit to 69-64. Jackson then added a baseline jumper with 2:45 remaining to help McKendree pull within 69-66.
 
The Bulldogs stretched the lead back to seven points when McKendree made one final run. A basket and free throw from Williams cut the margin to 73-69 with 1:34 on the clock. Following a missed three-pointer on Truman State's next possession, Carson hit a 15-foot shot to bring the Bearcats within 73-71 with 46.7 seconds left. The Bulldogs misfired again and McKendree looked to hold for a potential game-tying shot. But Carson was called for an offensive foul with 14 seconds to play.
 
McKendree was forced to foul on the inbounds play, and the Bulldogs' Reed Mells hit two free throws to extend the Truman State lead back to four points. The Bearcats could not convert in the closing seconds as the visitors escaped with the victory.
 
In the first half, McKendree raced to a 12-4 lead thanks in part to Carson, who had nine points during the opening spurt. Carson did not miss a field goal attempt in the first half, going 8-for-8 from the floor as the Bearcats overcame a Truman State lead late in the period to surge in front by two at the break. The Bulldogs led 34-32 in the final minute of the period when Carson hit a jumper and Yates knocked down a pair of free throws.
 
Seth Jackson paced Truman State (10-4, 2-2 GLVC) with 17 points, while Mells finished with 16 points and four assists. Cole Myers came off the bench to post 13 points and six rebounds for the Bulldogs.