(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 25)—The McKendree University men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2017-18 season Saturday afternoon with a 75-58 setback at home against Trevecca Nazarene University.
The visiting Trojans broke a 28-28 halftime tie by shooting 74.1 percent from the field (20-of-27) over the final 20 minutes of play to gain a season split against the Bearcats. McKendree slips to 3-1 on the year and will have a week off to prepare for its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener next Saturday (Dec. 2) at Drury University. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.
Senior guard Justin Blanks scored 17 of his team-high 20 points in the second half to lead McKendree. Junior guard Nate Michael had 11 of his 13 points in the opening period for the Bearcats. Junior guards Malcolm Mabry and Giovanni Offard shared team-high rebounding honors for McKendree with six each, as Offard and senior guard Gianni Otto registered three steals apiece in the contest.
McKendree overcame a slow start as Trevecca Nazarene (1-5) scored the first 10 points of the contest and held a 14-4 advantage affer seven minutes of play. The Bearcats began to chip away at the deficit before using a 10-2 run to grab its first lead of the afternoon at 24-23 in the later stages of the period. Michael capped the burst with a three-pointer with 4:50 left until the intermission.
After Trevecca Nazarene regained a 28-26 lead, Michael sank two free throws at the 2:04 mark to knot the contest at 28-28. The two teams then came up empty on their final three possessions of the half to remain deadlocked at the break.
Sophomore center Nolan Gerling scored on a lay-up on McKendree's first possession of the second half to give the Bearcats their final lead of the contest at 30-28. Trevecca Nazarene answered by netting the next seven points and never trailed again. The Trojans hit their first five field goal attempts of the period and later added another stretch of five consecutive made shots to stretch the margin to 57-44 with 9:17 remaining. Trevecca Nazarene took its largest lead of the game at the final buzzer.
Devin Whitfield led Trevecca Nazarene with 24 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Michael Thompson helped out with 12 points, while Donavon Henry and Taywyn Mason each added 11 points for the Trojans.
This marks the sixth straight year that McKendree and Trevecca Nazarene have split a two-game non-conference series in regular-season play. The Bearcats defeated the Trojans 74-65 on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn.
