The McKendree Bearcats (7-6, 7-6 GLVC) men's basketball team honored its seniors on senior day with a 77-68 win over the Missouri S&T Miners on Saturday afternoon in Lebanon, Ill.

How it Happened

The Bearcats led for all but one minute in a dominating win against the Miners. McKendree started the contest jumping out to a nine-point lead just 10 minutes in. Over the final 10 minutes of the first half the two teams would trade offensive runs. The Miners cut the lead to two with just over a minute to go in the opening half but the Bearcats would close the half on a 5-0 run to head into the break up by seven.

McKendree would jump all over the visitors to start the second half with an 11-2 run to push its lead up to 16.  But just like the first half, the Miners would not go away answering the long Bearcat run with one of their own to cut the deficit to two. RIght back came McKendree and back-to-back three-pointers would push the lead back up to eight. Solid free throw shooting down the stretch would seal the win for the home team.

Inside the Box Score

-  The Bearcats shot 52 percent from the field and 48 percent from behind the three-point line.

-  McKendree won the rebounding battle 35-29.

-  Alijah Thomas (Des Moines, IA/Hoover) and Brendon Gooch (Belleville, IL/Althoff ) led the way for the Bearcats in scoring and rebounding. Each of them scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

-  Jacob Donaldson (Effingham, IL/Effingham) had a big offensive game as well scoring 17 points. The senior was five-of-nine from the field and added four three pointers in eight attempts.

Up Next

The Bearcats will have their third straight home game on Tuesday night against Illinois-Springfield.