(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 22) – The McKendree University men's basketball team defeated the University of Illinois Springfield on its senior day Saturday afternoon, 76-65. The Bearcats are now 14-12 overall on the season and 9-9 in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) competition.
McKendree had a hard time finding the net in the first half only shooting 35.71 percent from field goal range, 40 percent from the three point line, and 33.33 percent. The Prairie Stars weren't sinking that many baskets in the first half either but there were still able to take a 31-26 lead heading into halftime.
The Bearcats came out strong in the second half and were able to take the lead six minutes into the half backed by their 11 point unanswered run. The Prairie Stars pulled the game within one and even took a one point lead halfway through the second half but McKendree bounced right back and held onto the lead for the last nine minutes of the game, winning 76-65.
Four Bearcats recorded double-digit points in the victory with senior guard
Logan Kohrmann (Bartelso, IL/Breese Central) leading the way with 30 points. Freshman forward
Jakobie Robinson (Indianapolis, IN/Warren Central) and senior forward
Nate Bethel (Nassau, Bahamas/St. Louis Christian Academy) were next, each with 11 points, and freshman forward
Bryson Bultman (Nashville, IL/Nashville) rounded out the efforts with 10 points.
Robinson and Kohrmann were also defensive leaders for McKendree as well, Robinson with nine and Kohrmann with seven. Junior guard
Oliver Stephen (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) was also a strong rebounder for the Bearcats with six rebounds on the afternoon.
As a team, McKendree shot 45.6 percent from field goal range, 47.1 percent from the three point line, and 80 percent at the free throw line. The Bearcats were stronger in the paint, recording 32 of their 76 points in the paint while the Prairie Stars only collected 26.
McKendree will close out its 2019-20 regular season with two road games at the University of Indianapolis and Bellarmine. The game against the Greyhounds is set for Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET and the game against eh Knights is set for Saturday, Feb. 29 at 3 p.m. ET.
