(LEBANON, Ill. – Jan. 4) – The McKendree University men's basketball started off the new year with an 88-74 win over University of Indianapolis, Monday night. Assistant Coach George Suggs recorded his first win acting as head coach for the contest.

McKendree Head Coach Chris Foster was out for the night's game due to COVID protocol, and Assistant Coach George Suggs acted as head coach. The Bearcats had to adjust quickly to their opponent's fast-paced tone right out of the gates. McKendree and Indianapolis went back and forth throughout the first half of the game, but it was a three-pointer by Oliver Stephen (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) with eight minutes left that had them tied. Another three-pointer from Stephen would put his team ahead, 34-31, with 5:30 left in first half. The Bearcats would hit hack-to-back three-pointers with under a minute left in the game would put them ahead by three heading into halftime. The Bearcats would build up to a heavy 17-point lead with 2:42 left in the game, and hold out for the win.

McKendree had five players finish in double figures. Brendon Gooch (Belleville, IL/Althoff ) matched his career-high 21 points to lead the Bearcats for the night. He went 5-for-7 from the floor and three-point range, and 6-for-6 in free throws. Aleksa Popovic (Belgrade, Serbia/BC Partizan Belgrade) recorded season-high 16 points on the night, shooting 80.0 percent from the floor and 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Oliver Stephen (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) added 14 points, with a 36.4 percent from the floor and three-point line. Alijah Thomas (Des Moines, IA/Hoover) went 83.3 percent from field-goal range, and 1-for-1 in three-pointers and free throw attempts. Rounding out the top players on the night was Bryson Bultman (Nashville, IL/Nashville). Bultman recorded 10 points, going 60.0 percent from the floor and 75.0 percent in free throw attempts.

Indianapolis set a fast-paced offense and aggressive defense. The Greyhounds established a seven-point lead early in the contest, but ended up down by one with four minutes left in the first half. Indianapolis capitalized on back-to-back turnovers from McKendree to keep them within one with 2:46 left before halftime. A bad pass from the Bearcats transitioned into a fast-break dunk by Jesse Bigham to take back a leaf 1:07 left in the first half.

Indianapolis had three players finish in double figures. Leading the way was Kendrick Tchoua, who recorded 20 points, and 7-for-8 from the floor. Jesse Bigham added 14 points, showing 5-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-5 from the free throw line. While Dee Montgomery recorded 10 points on the night, going 3-for-3 in free throws.

McKendree will hit the road for their next scheduled contest on Wednesday, Jan. 6 in Springfield, MO. The Bearcats will face the Panthers of Drury at 7:30 PM in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.