Box Score (LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 1)—The McKendree University men's basketball team kicked off the Great Lakes Valley Conference portion of its 2016-17 schedule Thursday night with a 104-58 loss at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center against the University of Southern Indiana.
The visiting Screaming Eagles scored the first 15 points of the game and never looked back in leading from start to finish. The loss sends McKendree to 2-3 on the year heading into another GLVC contest Saturday afternoon at home against Bellarmine University. Tip-off between the Bearcats and No. 7-ranked Knights is set for 3:30 p.m.
Junior guard
Justin Blanks (Barberton, OH/Norton) came off the bench to lead McKendree with a game-high 23 points. Freshman center
Nolan Gerling (Germantown, IL/Mater Dei) netted 10 of his 17 points in the second half for the Bearcats, while adding a team-leading six rebounds. Junior guard
Gianni Otto (Remseck, Germany/Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium) handed out a team-best four assists in the effort.
Southern Indiana (5-0, 1-0 GLVC) shot a blistering 18-of-27 from three-point range (66.7 percent), knocking down nine in each half. The Screaming Eagles hit four consecutive shots from beyond the arc during their game-opening burst, which occurred in the first 2:43 of play. USI stretched its lead to 54-25 at the half by shooting 53.8 percent from the field and holding an 18-6 edge in points off turnovers. The visitors continued to add to their advantage over the final 20 minutes in notching the win.
In his 23-point performance, Blanks was 7-of-7 from the free throw line while adding a team-leading three steals. Gerling was 8-for-10 from the field against Southern Indiana.
Six different players scored in double figures for Southern Indiana. Marcellous Washington scored a team-high 20 points in a reserve role for the Screaming Eagles. Alex Stein notched 13 points to go along with a team-best five assists, while Cortez Macklin and Bobo Drummond each connected for 11 points. On the night, the USI bench outscored the McKendree reserves 57-31.
