Box Score (SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb. 7)—The McKendree University men's basketball team closed out the road portion of its 2014-15 regular season schedule with a 79-45 loss Saturday afternoon at Drury University.
The host Panthers shot 60 percent in the first half and scored the first nine points of the second period to pull away for the victory in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. McKendree slips to 9-12 overall and 2-11 in the GLVC. The Bearcats be at home for its final five games of the regular season, beginning Thursday evening against Rockhurst University. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
Senior forward
Matt Holmes (Houston, TX/Marshall) and sophomore guard
Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) shared team-high scoring honors for McKendree with 10 points each. Senior forward
Logan Carson (DuQuoin, IL/DuQuoin) added nine points and a team-best seven rebounds, while junior center
David Newton (Rochelle, IL/Rochelle) and sophomore forward
Brian Koch (Mt. Vernon, IN/Mt. Vernon) each chipped in with five points. Jackson also added a pair of steals for the Bearcats.
The teams matched baskets in the opening minutes, with Drury holding a 12-10 advantage. The Panthers then used a 10-2 burst to pull out to a 20-12 lead with 9:38 left in the opening period. McKendree responded by scoring seven of the next nine points to rally within 22-19. Holmes had a tip-in off an offensive rebound to cap the run for the Bearcats.
After Drury closed the half on an 11-3 run over the final 3:43 to take a 39-25 lead at the intermission, the Panthers broke from the gates quickly to start the second half. Drury netted the first nine points of the period to extend its margin to 48-25 with 16:49 to play. The Panthers slowly pulled away down the stretch to defend its home court.
Saturday's meeting was a stark contrast to last year's game at the Statham Center. The Bearcats led by as many as 10 points and held a four-point advantage in the closing minutes before Drury, then ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II, rallied to grab a 78-74 victory.
Cameron Adams posted game-high totals of 26 points and 10 rebounds to show the way for Drury, which moved to 16-5 overall and 10-3 in the GLVC. Kameron Bundy added 20 points for the Panthers, who maintained their lead in the GLVC West Division standings.
