(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 15) – The McKendree University men's basketball team defeated Lindenwood University 80-68, at home Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats are now 12-11 overall on the season and 7-9 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

The Bearcats got on the board first but Lindenwood answered back quickly to gain a five point lead early on. The Bearcats were able to tie it back up 11-11 with 13:16 left to go in the half. Once again, the Lions took the lead and kept it for a few minutes until McKendree was able to tie it again 28-28 with 7:02 remaining in the first half. Back-and-forth play ensued with Lindenwood coming out on top at the half, 41-35.

McKendree slipped off in the first half, facing a 12-point deficit at the largest point. It wasn't until the eleventh minute of play that the Bearcats caught a hot streak. McKendree went on a 22 point unanswered run to gather a 72-62 lead over Lindenwood with 3:29 left to play. The Bearcats remained strong and held onto the lead for the rest of the game, going on to win 80-68.

Three Bearcats earned double-digit points in the game for McKendree. Senior guard Logan Kohrmann (Bartelso, IL/Breese Central) and freshman forward Bryson Bultman (Nashville, IL/Nashville) led the scoring efforts for the Bearcats, each with 22 points. The high mark is a new career best for Bultman. Senior forward Nate Bethel (Nassau, Bahamas/St. Louis Christian Academy) was the other Bearcat to tally double-digit points with 13 on the afternoon.

Bultman and sophomore forward Aleksa Popovic (Belgrade, Serbia/BC Partizan Belgrade) led McKendree's rebounding efforts in the game, each with five total rebounds. Bethel and freshman forward Jakobie Robinson (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) were also strong rebounders for the Bearcats with four rebounds each. Robinson was the steal leader for McKendree in the game marking a new career high five steals.

As a team, the Bearcats were able to capitalize more off of turnovers coring 28 of their 80 points off of Lion turnovers while only allowing Lindenwood to score six. The Lions and the Bearcats remained even in the other team statistical categories, each recording 40 points in the paint and each team bench accounting for eight points for either team.

McKendree will resume GLVC competition with a game against Lewis University on Thursday, Feb. 20 in Romeoville, Ill. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.