(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 14)—The McKendree University men's basketball team posted its second victory in as many nights thanks to a 111-74 triumph Thursday night at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center over Robert Morris University-Springfield.
 
The Bearcats put on another impressive shooting display, knocking down 54.3 percent (38-of-70) of their field goal attempts in cruising to its second win of the season over the visiting Eagles. McKendree will now head to Puerto Rico for a pair of games to close out the first half of the 2017-18 campaign. The Bearcats are slated to take the court in San Juan, P.R., on Sunday for a contest against the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. Atlantic Time (7 p.m. CT).
 
All 11 McKendree players found the scoring column Thursday night, with five reaching double figures. Senior guard Justin Blanks and freshman guard Jacob Donaldson led the way with 17 points each. Donaldson had 12 of his points in the first half, while Blanks knocked down 13 of his points in the final period.
 
Junior guard Nate Michael and freshman guard Carrington Bass connected for 14 points apiece, while junior forward Malcolm Mabry closed the night with a double-double of 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Bearcats. Junior guard Giovanni Offard handed out seven assists in the win.
 
After Robert Morris-Springfield (2-9) clawed its way to a 6-4 lead in the first three minutes of play, McKendree rattled off 16 consecutive points to take the lead for good, 20-6, with 14:42 on the clock. The Bearcats continued to add to the advantage, scoring nine points in a row to stretch the margin to 41-20 with just over four minutes remaining until halftime. The Eagles fought back and trimmed the deficit to 44-32 before McKendree closed the half with seven consecutive points – the last two coming on an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and put-back by Donaldson just before the buzzer – to send the Bearcats into the locker room with a 51-32 lead.
 
McKendree, which shot 51.4 percent over the first 20 minutes of action, improved on that effort in the second half. The Bearcats made 57.6 percent of their field goal tries (19-of-33) in the final period on its way to a 60-point scoring outburst. Bass sank two free throws with 2:46 remaining to give McKendree its largest lead of the contest at 105-62.
 
Thursday's win marked the fourth time this season that McKendree scored at least 100 points in a game. The Bearcats narrowly missed the century mark Wednesday evening in a 99-79 triumph over Salem University in another non-conference tilt. In that contest, McKendree shot 58.5 percent for the game.
 
In addition, the Bearcats were able to complete the season sweep of Robert Morris-Springfield. McKendree cruised to a 102-62 win over the Eagles back on Nov. 18, also at the Statham Center.
 
Leo Bowen netted 15 of his team-leading 17 points in the first half for Robert Morris-Springfield. Tywon Buckley notched a double-double with 15 opints and 10 rebounds for the Eagles.