(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 27)—The McKendree University men's basketball team fell Saturday at home in Great Lakes Valley Conference play against the University of Southern Indiana, 86-56.
 
The Screaming Eagles shot 55.2 percent for the game and used a 22-4 run that bridged the first and second half in posting the road victory against the Bearcats. McKendree moves to 11-9 on the year and 2-8 in conference action. The Bearcats, who wrapped up a three-game home stand on Saturday, will travel east to the University of Indianapolis on Thursday for a GLVC contest set to tip off at 7:45 p.m. ET.
 
Senior guard Justin Blanks and junior guard Nate Bethel shared team-high scoring honors with 14 points apiece for McKendree. Junior forward Malcolm Mabry recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. The 15 boards from Mabry matched a season-high, which was set earlier this season against the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon back on Dec. 18. Bethel also collected a team-leading three steals against Southern Indiana.
 
McKendree controlled the tempo in the opening minutes, taking a 12-8 lead at the 12:08 mark on a jumper from Mabry. Midway through the period, Southern Indiana scored seven consecutive points to grab its first lead of the contest at 19-14 with 6:47 left until halftime. Blanks helped the Bearcats answer by hitting a three-pointer followed by a pair of free throws on McKendree's next possession to tie things at 19-19. USI countered with the next seven points before Blanks knocked down another three-pointer to help the Bearcats pull within 26-22 with 3:45 remaining until the intermission.
 
Southern Indiana closed the half with an 11-2 run to stretch its lead to 37-24 heading into the locker room. The Screaming Eagles continued to hold the hot hand at the outset of the second half, scoring 11 of the first 13 points of the period to take a 48-26 lead with 16:22 remaining.
 
The Bearcats chipped away at the deficit, pulling within 54-44 thanks to a lay-up and free throw from sophomore center Nolan Gerling with 9:13 to play. That turned out to be the closest McKendree would come as USI pulled away with a 21-4 spurt to build a 75-48 advantage with just under five minutes left.
 
DayJar Dickson paced Southern Indiana (17-5, 8-2 GLVC) with 22 points and three blocked shots. Dickson went 11-of-12 from the field in Saturday's contest. Marcellous Washington scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half for the Screaming Eagles while adding a team-leading seven rebounds.