(SOMERS, Wis., Jan. 28)—The McKendree University men's basketball team closed out a two-game road trip Saturday afternoon with a 90-63 loss Saturday afternoon at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
 
The host Rangers, ranked No. 25 in the latest NABC Division II coaches poll, shot 56.1 percent from the field and remained undefeated at home in pulling away for the Great Lakes Valley Conference victory. McKendree moves to 7-11 on the year and 1-9 in conference play. The Bearcats will return home to face Maryville University Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
 
Sophomore guard Nate Michael (St. Joseph, IL/St. Joseph-Ogden) led McKendree in the scoring column with 18 points. Senior guard Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) helped out with 16 points, while freshman center Nolan Gerling (Germantown, IL/Mater Dei) contributed 10 points. Senior guard David Franklin (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) led the Bearcats with nine rebounds and four assists at Wisconsin-Parkside.
 
UW-Parkside got off to a fast start, scoring the first 10 points of the contest. Jackson broke the ice for McKendree when he hit a three-pointer with 15:09 remaining in the opening period. Jackson accounted for the Bearcats' first six points as McKendree chipped away at the deficit, and pulled within 17-13 when junior guard Justin Blanks (Barberton, OH/Norton) connected on a three-pointer with 9:02 left in the half.
 
Later in the first half, McKendree ripped off six of eight points to slash its deficit to 24-21 with just over five minutes on the clock. The Rangers responded by scoring the next 10 points as part of a 14-5 run to close the half as UW-Parkside took a 38-26 lead into the locker room.
 
The Rangers then heated up from the floor over the final 20 minutes, shooting 67.7 percent from the floor (21-of-31) to pull away for the win. The teams traded baskets over the first few minutes of the period before Wisconsin-Parkside used a run of 13 consecutive points to push its advantage to 80-52 with just under six minutes remaining. For the game, UW-Parkside made 37-of-66 of its field goal tries against McKendree.
 
Alexander Brown netted a game-high 24 points to lead the way for Wisconsin-Parkside (17-3, 9-2 GLVC). Kendale McCullum posted 17 points and a game-high seven assist for the Rangers, while Kyle Flanagan posted 13 points and a team-leading nine rebounds. All five starters scored in double figures for the Rangers, who are now 11-0 on their home floor this season and have won 17 of their last 19 contests.