(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 3)—The McKendree University men's basketball team was defeated at home Saturday in Great Lakes Valley Conference by Bellarmine University, 95-66.
 
Senior forward Darin Winkelman (Steeleville, IL/Steeleville) registered 13 of his career-high 21 points in the second half for the Bearcats, who are now 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the GLVC. Bellarmine, the No. 7-ranked team in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II poll, improves to 6-1 on the year and 2-0 in league play.
 
In addition to his career-high 21 points, Winkelman netted a career-best with five three-point field goals. He had made just four shots from beyond the arc this season before Saturday's contest, but hit 5-of-12 three-pointers against Bellarmine. Winkelman also matched freshman center Nolan Gerling (Germantown, IL/Mater Dei) and junior center Joel Atabo (Liberty, NC/St. Patrick's) for team-high rebounding honors with six. Sophomore guard Nate Michael (St. Joseph, IL/St. Joseph-Ogden) posted 14 points, while Gerling dropped in 12 points against the Knights. Senior guard Kyle Yates (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) handed out a team-leading five assists on Saturday.
 
Bellarmine held the lead in the early stages of play before McKendree used a 10-4 run to grab a 17-14 lead with 12:36 remaining in the first half. Michael opened the burst with a three-pointer before converting a rare four-point play at the 13:31 mark to give the Bearcats their first lead of the contest. After the Knights tied the score moments later, Winkelman buried a three-pointer from the wing on McKendree's next possession to give the Bearcats a three-point advantage.
 
The Knights answered by scoring the next seven points to take the lead for good at 21-17. McKendree fought back and pulled within 21-20 following two free throws from Winkelman with 8:04 left until halftime before Bellarmine scored the next 13 points over a three-minute span to take a 34-20 lead. The Knights shot 58.1 percent in the first half (18-of-31) in building a 47-27 advantage at the intermission. Bellarmine improved on its shooting over the final 20 minutes, knocking down 20-of-32 shots from the floor (62.5 percent) in securing the team's sixth consecutive victory.
 
Adam Eberhard paced Bellarmine with 20 points, while Al Davis added 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Eberhard and Davis each dished out six assists in the game for the Knights. Tyler Jenkins chipped in with 17 points for Bellarmine.
 
Saturday's game marked the first of two meetings this season between McKendree and Bellarmine. The Bearcats and Knights will meet again on Feb. 18 at Knights Hall in Louisville, Ky.