(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 5)—The McKendree University men's basketball team nearly overcame a 16-point, first-half deficit to visiting Quincy University Thursday night at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center before being edged in the final seconds by the Hawks, 79-77.
 
Joseph Tagarelli hit a turnaround jumper in the lane with 1.5 seconds remaining to break a 77-77 deadlock and send Quincy to its 13^th consecutive victory. McKendree had tied the game just moments earlier when senior guard David Franklin (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) drove the lane to hit a layup, was fouled and made the ensuing free throw with 15.6 seconds left.
 
The loss sends McKendree to 6-5 overall and 0-3 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play. The Bearcats will close out a season-long eight-game home stand Saturday afternoon when Truman State University visits the Statham Center. Tip-off is slated for 3:30 p.m. in the GLVC contest.
 
Senior guard Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) netted a team-leading 18 points for McKendree, which included 11 in the first half. Franklin and freshman center Nolan Gerling (Germantown, IL/Mater Dei) each posted a double-double for the Bearcats. Franklin finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds to go along with a team-best three assists. Gerling scored all 10 of his points in the second half while pulling down 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Nate Michael (St. Joseph, IL/St. Joseph-Ogden) also reached double figures in the scoring column with 17 points for McKendree.
 
McKendree trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half before chipping away at the deficit. An 11-2 run brought the Bearcats within 52-50 with 13:29 remaining. Senior guard Kyle Yates (Bethalto, IL/Civic Memorial) scored on driving lay-ups to both start and finish off the spurt for the Bearcats. After trailing from the outset, McKendree took its first lead of the night at 65-64 when junior guard Justin Blanks (Barberton, OH/Norton) connected on two free throws with 7:05 on the clock.
 
Quincy (14-1, 4-0 GLVC) edged back in front, stretching its lead to five points on two different occasions, the last coming at 77-72 on a lay-up by Evan McGaughey with 1:27 to play. After the teams traded possessions, Michael was fouled on his way to the basket and hit two free throws with 34.2 seconds to play to bring McKendree within 77-74.
 
On the Hawks' next possession, Gerling tipped an entry pass on the high post to Jackson. The Bearcats worked the ball to Franklin, who drove the lane, scored and was fouled with 15.6 seconds on the clock. His free throw knotted the score at 77-77. Following a Quincy timeout, the Hawks worked the ball on the left block to Tagarelli, who rimmed home a 10-foot turnaround shot to break the tie with just 1.5 seconds to play. McKendree worked the ball to midcourt and called a quick timeout to set up a last play. Yates inbounded to Franklin, who dribbled and missed a 30-footer at the buzzer.
 
In the first half, Quincy broke open a close game with an 11-2 run, sprinting to a 27-13 advantage midway through the period. The margin eventually grew to 42-26 for the Hawks with just under three minutes left until the intermission before McKendree rallied. The Bearcats scored the final eight points of the half to pull within 42-34 at the break.
 
Tagarelli poured in a game-high 27 points and added 12 rebounds to lead Quincy. McGaughey chipped in with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Von Washington III connected for 12 points. Herm Senor II flirted with a triple-double before closing the night with nine points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Hawks.