(SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Dec. 2)—The McKendree University men's basketball team erased a 17-point, second-half deficit to post a 100-91 victory Saturday afternoon at Drury University.
 
Sophomore center Nolan Gerling poured in 20 of his game-high 32 points in the final 20 minutes of play as all five starters scored in double figures for the Bearcats. Senior guard Justin Blanks connected for 20 points while junior guard Giovanni Offard added 18 points and three steals as McKendree won its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for the first time in its six years as a league member. The Bearcats improve to 4-1 overall and will return to the Harry M. Statham Sports Center Monday evening for a non-conference match-up against Central Christian College. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
 
In the second half, McKendree made 60.7 percent of its field goal attempts (17-of-28) and shot 56.9 percent for the game (33-of-58). The Bearcats also held a 50-30 edge in points in the paint while holding a 33-30 edge on the boards. McKendree's comeback was also fueled by a 58-point scoring outburst in the second half.
 
After holding a 51-42 lead at the half, Drury (5-2, 1-1 GLVC) controlled the tempo in the opening moments of the second half and used a 10-2 run to match its largest lead of the contest at 61-44 with 17:35 to play. McKendree began to chip away at the deficit, answering with a 10-2 run of its own to pull within 63-54 just over two minutes later. Gerling had four points during the burst, including a lay-up that brought the Bearcats within single digits.
 
Drury knocked down a three-pointer to stretch the lead back to double figures before McKendree ripped off 10 straight points to trim the margin to 66-64 with 11:11 on the clock. Gerling had another four points during the stretch as Blanks capped the run with a three-pointer. A jumper from Gerling at the 8:41 mark helped the Bearcats pull even at 73-73 before junior guard Malcolm Mabry scored on a basket and free throw on the next possession to give McKendree its first lead of the contest at 76-73 with just under eight minutes remaining.
 
The teams traded leads over the next few minutes before a pair of free throws from Gerling pushed McKendree out in front for the first time in the game at 82-81 with 3:33 to play. Gerling's free throw sparked an 8-1 run for the Bearcats, which ended following two free throws for junior guard Nate Michael at the 1:56 mark to stretch the McKendree lead to 90-82.
 
McKendree then held on at the free throw line, making 10-of-11 attempts in the final 1:18 of play to seal the victory. As a team, McKendree hit 28-of-37 free throw attempts in the game, including a 21-of-27 effort in the final 20 minutes of play. The win was the first for the Bearcats over Drury since McKendree became GLVC members.
 
Michael finished with 15 points and added a team-leading four assists. Mabry chipped in with 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Blanks and Gerling each pulled down seven rebounds in the win.
 
Drury led throughout the first half, building its first 17-point lead of the contest with 6:27 remaining until halftime. McKendree made a late run at the Panthers in the period which included an 8-2 run to get within 51-42 at the intermission. McKendree shot 53.3 percent from the field (16-of-30) in the first half, but Drury connected on 63.3 percent of its tries (19-of-30) in the first 20 minutes.