(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 15)—The McKendree University men's basketball team battled its way back into the win column thanks to an 88-84 victory Thursday night at home against the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
 
The Bearcats nearly squandered a 24-point lead early in the second half but held off a furious comeback bid by the visiting Tritons to collect the win. McKendree improves to 12-13 overall and 3-12 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Bearcats will make the short trip to St. Louis Saturday afternoon for another league contest against Maryville University. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
     
As a team, McKendree shot 72.4 percent in the first half (21-of-29) and a season-best 61.1 percent for the contest (33-of-54). The Bearcats were 10-of-15 from three-point range, including a perfect 6-for-6 in the first 20 minutes of play. It marked the fifth time this season that McKendree reached double figures in three-pointers made in a game.
 
Senior guard Justin Blanks connected on a career-high six three-pointers in matching a season-high with 31 points to lead McKendree. Sophomore center Nolan Gerling and junior forward Malcolm Mabry each posted a double-double against UMSL as Gerling notched 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Mabry added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Mabry also handed out a career-high six assists for the Bearcats. Gerling was 11-of-13 from the field in Thursday's victory.
 
McKendree scored nine of the first 11 points of the night before UMSL clawed back within 15-11 with just under 14 minutes left in the first half. Junior guard Nate Bethel then came off the bench and drilled a pair of three-pointers as part of a 10-4 run that helped the Bearcats build their first double-digit lead of the night at 25-15. McKendree continued to add to its advantage, taking its largest lead of the period at 54-34 following a dunk by Blanks in the final minute of the half.
 
After leading 54-36 at the break, McKendree scored on five of its first seven possessions of the second half, and a lay-up and free throw from Gerling at the 16:21 mark gave the Bearcats their biggest advantage of the contest at 64-40. At that point, the Tritons began to chip away at the deficit and later ran off eight straight points to get within 78-70 with 5:36 remaining.
 
The Bearcats pushed their lead back to 87-78 thanks to the final three-pointer of the night by Blanks with 2:36 left. But UMSL answered with a 6-0 run to slash the margin to 87-84 with 46.5 seconds on the clock. McKendree missed on its next possession and the Tritons had a chance to tie, but a potential game-tying three-pointer was preceded by an offensive foul with 5.6 seconds to go. Blanks was fouled on the inbounds and made one of two free throws to cap the victory for McKendree.
 
Elijah Watson scored 19 of his team-high 23 points in the second half to pace UMSL (12-12, 7-8 GLVC). Anthony Hughes and Steven Davis each helped out with 13 points for the Tritons.
 
McKendree and Missouri-St. Louis split its season series, with each team winning at home. The Tritons edged the Bearcats 59-57 back on Jan. 13 in St. Louis on a 17-foot jumper by Watson with 0.9 seconds remaining.