(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Jan. 23)—The McKendree University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 78-75 decision in the closing seconds Saturday afternoon at the University of Indianapolis.
 
Jordan Loyd hit a 21-foot shot with just 1.3 seconds remaining to lift the host Greyhounds to the Great Lakes Valley Conference win. McKendree moves to 9-8 overall and 2-7 in GLVC play. The Bearcats will return home to begin a brief two-game home stand Thursday against the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
Junior guard David Franklin (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) led McKendree with a game-high 25 points while adding team-best totals of seven rebounds and four assists. Freshman guard Nate Michael (St. Joseph, IL/St. Joseph-Ogden) added 17 points and three assists while junior forward Darin Winkelman (Steeleville, IL/Steeleville) finished the contest with 16 points. Junior guard Kyle Yates (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) helped out with a career-high 11 points for the Bearcats.
 
Indianapolis overcame a 15-point halftime deficit and clawed its way to a 75-71 lead following a jumper by Loyd with 1:03 remaining. McKendree answered on its next possession as Michael drilled a 22-foot shot with 49.1 seconds on the clock to bring the Bearcats within 75-74. After a timeout, McKendree forced a missed shot by the Greyhounds, and junior guard Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) came away with the rebound. The Bearcats got the ball to Yates, who was fouled with 7.8 seconds on the clock. Yates sank the first free throw to knot the score at 75-75.
 
On the inbounds, Indianapolis worked the ball to Loyd, who hit his game-winner near the top of the key. Out of timeouts, McKendree quickly worked the ball to midcourt but a final shot was just wide of the rim as time expired.
 
McKendree controlled the tempo throughout the first half as it never trailed in the period in building a 43-28 advantage at the intermission. The Bearcats opened the game on an 11-4 run before Indianpolis responded by scoring nine of the next 11 points to tie the score at 13-13. A lay-up by Franklin sparked a 10-2 burst as McKendree quickly regained the advantage at 23-15 midway through the first half.
 
After the Greyhounds fought back within four points, McKendree reeled off 11 straight points to stretch its margin to 39-24 with 3:44 left until the half. The Bearcats limited Indianapolis to just 32.4 percent shooting (11-of-34) in taking a 43-28 lead into the locker room.
 
Indianapolis chipped away at its large deficit and did not take its first lead of the contest until a lay-up by Joe Retic pushed the Greyhounds in front at 60-59 with 6:48 on the clock. The teams continued to battle down the stretch until Loyd's late heroics for the hosts.
 
Loyd posted a team-high 23 points and had a game-high 11 rebounds to show the way for Indianapolis (14-3, 8-1 GLVC). Retic posted 21 points while Alex Etherington chipped in with 11 points for the Greyhounds.