(LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 16)—The McKendree University men's basketball team dropped a 96-72 decision Thursday night in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Bellarmine University, the No. 4-ranked team in the latest NABC coaches poll.
 
Five of the six Bearcats who scored in the contest reached double figures in the scoring column, led by a 17-point effort from senior forward Darin Winkelman (Steeleville, IL/Steeleville). McKendree moves to 9-15 on the year and is now 3-13 in GLVC play. The Bearcats will make the trip to Evansville, Ind., on Saturday for another league contest at the University of Southern Indiana. Tip-off is set for 3:15 p.m.
 
Senior guard David Franklin (O'Fallon, IL/Althoff Catholic) registered 14 points, while senior guard Michael Jackson (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) and junior guard Justin Blanks (Barberton, OH/Norton) each connected for 13 points for McKendree. Sophomore guard Nate Michael (St. Joseph, IL/St. Joseph-Ogden) chipped in with 12 points to round out the list of double-digit scorers for the Bearcats. Michael and Franklin shared game-high honors with six assists each against Bellarmine.
 
In the first half, Bellarmine scored the first five points of the contest before Jackson answered with a three-pointer and lay-up on consecutive possessions to help McKendree pull even in the opening moments. The host Knights then reeled off the next 10 points that helped fuel a 22-2 run to stretch the Bellarmine advantage to 27-7 with just under 12 minutes remaining until halftime.
 
McKendree began to chip away at its 20-point deficit, and a three-pointer from Franklin at the 8:16 mark capped a 19-3 burst that brought the Bearcats within 30-19. Later in the half, Michael drained a three-pointer to help McKendree pull within single digits at 41-32. Bellarmine then closed the period by scoring the final 10 points over the final 2:46 that was punctuated with a three-pointer from Rusty Troutman on the Knights' final possession of the half. Bellarmine shot 58.6 percent in the first half (17-of-29) in taking a 51-32 lead into the locker room.
 
A lay-up from Winkelman with 17:33 to play brought McKendree within 55-41. At that point, Bellarmine took control, scoring 20 of the next 22 points to stretch its lead back to 75-43 with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Knights again shot above 50 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes of play, and finished the contest by connecting on 56.4 percent of their tries (31-of-55) from the floor.
 
Adam Eberhard led a balanced attack for Bellarmine (23-3, 15-1 GLVC) with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Troutman dropped in 16 points, including 12 in the first half, while Al Davis added 12 points and a game-high three steals for the Knights. Thursday's win also helped Bellarmine officially earn a bye in the opening round of the GLVC Tournament that begins Feb. 26 at campus sites.
 
The Knights also completed the two-game season sweep of McKendree, having posted a 95-66 victory at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center back on Dec. 3.