GAME DAY LINKS --
McKENDREE vs. SALEM INTERNATIONAL -- Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, 7 p.m.
Harry M. Statham Sports Center, Lebanon, Ill.
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(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 16)--The McKendree University men's basketball team will bring the first portion of its 2015-16 season to a close on Wednesday by playing host to Salem International University in non-conference play. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.

McKendree brings a 5-3 overall record into Wednesday's tilt. The Bearcats split a pair of non-conference affairs at the Statham Center last week, cruising past Central Christian College 92-57 last Wednesday before an 83-73 setback at the hands of Trevecca Nazarene University on Saturday. David Franklin (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) starred in the Bearcats' loss to Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday. Franklin notched a double-double with season-high totals of 31 points and 10 rebounds. Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) chipped in with 15 points and set a new career-high by going 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Jackson also collected five rebounds against the Trojans. Brandon Book (Albers, IL/Breese Central) also reached double figures in the scoring column for the Bearcats with 10 points. 

Thanks to his 31-point output against Trevecca Nazarene, Franklin has now taken over the team lead in scoring at 15.8 points per game. He also paces the Bearcats in rebounding at 6.4 boards per outing and has dished out a team-leading 31 assists. Jackson is next at 14.6 points a game, and is followed by Book at 13.6 points per contest. Darin Winkelman (Steeleville, IL/Steeleville) is the fourth McKendree player with a double-digit scoring average coming into Wednesday's game at 11.1 points per game. 

Salem International makes the long trek from Salem, W.Va., with a 3-7 overall record. The Tigers hosted the Joe Manchin Classic last weekend and split their two outings. Salem International defeated Ohio University-Lancaster on Friday night, 126-76, before Great Lakes Valley Conference member Saint Joseph's College tamed the Tigers on Saturday, 99-84. Gerard Tarin shows the way in both scoring (14.3 PPG) and rebounding (6.3 RPG) for the Tigers. Tarin is also shooting 59.4 percent from the floor. Conrad Etchi has posted 11.1 points per game and leads the team in steals with 18. Victor Blakey is the only other Salem International player averaging in double figures at 10.1 points an outing. Blakey has handed out 41 assists in the first 10 games of the year for the Tigers.

This will mark the second meeting between McKendree and Salem International on the basketball court. On Jan. 13, 2015 at the Statham Center, the Bearcats registered a 75-62 win over the Tigers. Logan Carson (DuQuoin, IL/DuQuoin) dropped in a game-high 34 points and added three assists, three steals and three blocked shots in leading McKendree. Matt Holmes (Houston, TX/Marshall) helped out with 16 points and a career-high 20 rebounds to go along with four assists. 

The Salem International contest will be the Bearcats' last game action for 17 days. Following the Christmas and New Year's holidays, McKendree will return to the court on Saturday, Jan. 2 for a 7 p.m. clash at home with Robert Morris University-Peoria.