(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 4)—The McKendree University men's basketball team posted 64 first-half points on its way to a 116-50 non-conference victory Monday night at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center against Central Christian College (Mo.).
The Bearcats shot 55.4 percent for the game (46-of-83), including a 59.5 percent clip (22-of-37) in the second half on its way to a season-high in the scoring column. McKendree improved to 5-1 overall and will step back into Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday at home against Truman State University. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Six different McKendree players scored in double figures, led by a 23-point effort from senior guard Justin Blanks. Sophomore forward Troy Pedtke came off the bench to add 13 points in the contest, while sophomore center Nolan Gerling and junior guard Malcolm Mabry each registered a double-double for the Bearcats. Gerling finished the night with 12 points and 12 rebounds as Mabry posted 10 points and matched Gerling with 12 rebounds. Freshman guard Jacob Donaldson helped out with 11 points and eight rebounds as junior guard Giovanni Offard notched 12 points to go along with five assists and three steals.
Senior guard Gianni Otto just missed out on his own double-double for McKendree as he scored nine points and handed out a career-best nine assists. All 11 Bearcats who saw action against Central Christian found the scoring column, and all but one had at least seven points.
In addition to shooting 55.4 percent from the field, McKendree held a 62-29 edge on the boards. The Bearcast also posted highs in fast-break points with 22 and points in the paint with 62.
McKendree led from start to finish, opening the contest by scoring the first 12 points in the opening four minutes. The Bearcats later used a 17-2 run to extend its margin to 37-11 with 7:49 remaining in the half. McKendree slowly continued to increase its lead and took its biggest lead of the half at the buzzer when Offard stole the ball, raced across mid-court and drilled a 23-foot shot to give the Bearcats a 64-19 bulge heading into the locker room.
In the second half, McKendree added to its lead and grabbed its largest advantage of the night when Pedtke scored the Bearcats' final basket of the night with just over 30 seconds remaining to push the lead to 116-48.
Along with its season-high scoring outburst, McKendree put the clamps down defensively on the visiting Saints. The Bearcats limited Central Christian to just 27.5 percent shooting on the night (19-of-69). McKendree also scored 27 points off 15 turnovers by the Saints.
Monday's victory marked the first time in a little more than two years that McKendree scored at least 100 points in consecutive games. The Bearcats – who also reached the century mark Saturday in a 100-91 win at Drury University – defeated Lincoln University 102-92 at home back on Nov. 24, 2015 before posting a 108-54 decision against Robert Morris University-Springfield a day later on Nov. 25, 2015.
