VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 30)—The McKendree University men's basketball team nearly overcame a 21-point, second-half deficit as the Bearcats dropped an 87-79 decision Saturday afternoon at home against Lewis University.
 
McKendree trailed 70-49 midway through the final period but used runs of 10-0 and, later in the period, 9-0, to rally within 82-79 with just under a minute to play. But Lewis scored the final five points to fend off the Bearcats' comeback attempt. McKendree moves to 10-9 overall and 3-8 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Bearcats will be on the road for their next two games, including its next contest this coming Thursday at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Junior guard David Franklin (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) socred a game-high 22 points and added six rebounds to lead McKendree. Freshman guard Nate Michael (St. Joseph, IL/St. Joseph-Ogden) and junior guard Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) each connected for 17 points. Michael also contributed team-high totals of seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in the contest for the Bearcats. Junior guard Kyle Yates (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) also reached double figures in the scoring column for McKendree with 10 points.
 
After holding a 42-39 lead at the intermission, Lewis (15-6, 7-4 GLVC) opened the second half on an 8-2 run to stretch its lead to 50-41 with 17:27 remaining. Moments later, the Flyers reeled off 12 consecutive points to push its advantage to 68-47 with 10:47 on the clock. After the teams traded baskets, McKendree began to chip away at its deficit. A 10-0 burst over a two-minute span helped bring the Bearcats within 70-59 with 7:34 on the clock. Michael had seven of the 10 points during the run for McKendree.
 
Lewis was able to claw its way back out to an 82-70 lead with 3:38 left when McKendree rallied once again. A three-pointer from junior forward Darin Winkelman (Steeleville, IL/Steeleville) ignited a 9-0 run from the Bearcats. The streak was capped by a lay-up from Franklin with 57.6 seconds to go, trimming the McKendree deficit to 82-79.
 
Capel Henshaw made one of two free throws on Lewis' next trip down the floor to push the lead back to four points for the Flyers. McKendree was off the mark on consecutive three-point attempts before Lewis' Delaney Blaylock was fouled and his free throw with 17 seconds on the clock made it a five-point game. Max Strus then sealed the win for the Flyers with a steal, lay-up and free throw in the closing seconds.
 
In the first half the lead changed hands 11 times in a closely-played period. McKendree built a four-point lead on three different occasions in the first half, the last coming at 18-14 on a lay-up by Franklin at the 12.58 mark. The teams then battled back and forth for the rest of the period. The Bearcats' last lead came at 36-34 when Michael buried a three-pointer with 3:09 left until halftime. Lewis responded by closing the half on an 8-3 run to open a 42-39 advantage at the break.
 
Strus posted 21 points and a game-high 18 rebounds while dishing out four assists to lead Lewis. Blaylock chipped in with 20 points and six rebounds as Kyle Nelson posted 19 points, six rebounds and three assists in the win for the Flyers. Lewis held a 42-30 edge in rebounding against McKendree.