LEBANON, Ill. - McKendree University men's basketball (10-10, 6-7 GLVC) captured another home court victory on Thursday night as it toppled a top-four Great Lakes Valley Conference team in William Jewell, 68-64. The Bearcats jumped back to .500 overall this season with the hard-fought win while improving to 6-7 in league play and avenging a 20-point loss to the Cardinals earlier this season. Three individuals in double-figures pushed the Bearcats to the win as sophomore combo guard
Caleb Zurliene amassed a career-high of 26 points in the contest. McKendree returns to the Harry M. Statham Sports Center on Saturday, February 4 at 3PM for an outing versus Truman State.
The first half of action proved to be the difference-maker for the Bearcats in the evening game as they put together a 7-0 run in the last two minutes to hold a four-point lead at the buzzer. McKendree's run kicked off with 2:21 remaining in the half as senior guard
Eric Powell II buried a jumper which junior forward
Milos Vicentic followed-up with a three while the sophomore Zurliene added a lay-in to cap it off. McKendree utilized strong play in the paint over the first 20 minutes of action to help gain the intermission lead as they amassed 18 points in the lane during the period. The Cardinals and Bearcats both struggled from the field during the first half, combining for a 6/27 mark from three-point land. McKendree owned the 33-29 lead at the intermission while the squads tied the second half with 35 points a piece.
The three leading scorers for McKendree were Zurliene, Vicentic, and senior guard
Bryson Bultman. Zurliene went for his career-high of 26 on 11/15 shooting and 3/4 from the line while collecting nine boards, three blocks, two steals, and one assist. The sophomore guard more than doubled his first half numbers as he and Bultman both had 10 points prior to intermission. Bultman tallied 19 points with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Vicentic mustered up a 15-point outing with eight boards and 3/6 shooting from beyond the arc. Just five Bearcats scored in the game as both teams struggled shooting from the field.
McKendree opened up a seven-point lead over the Cardinals with 13:16 remaining in the contest but WJC stormed back to tie it at 54 and subsequently taking the lead with 7:20 remaining, 56-54. The Bearcats grabbed the lead once again with 51 seconds left as Bultman pushed through the lane for a bucket before running it back on the next possession. With just 25 second remaining and the pair of scores by Bultman, McKendree held a 66-63 advantage.
Jewell added a final point via free throw but Zurliene tacked on two free throws to lock-up the game for the Bearcats.
McKendree was unable to find traction from the field throughout the GLVC contest, shooting just 47-percent overall and just 19-percent from three-point land. The Bearcats went 10/15 from the charity stripe in the game as well.
LEADERS
Caleb Zurliene | 26 points / 11-15 FGs / 9 rebounds / 3 assists / 3 blocks / 2 steals
Bryson Bultman | 19 points / 4 assists / 4 rebounds / 2 steals
Milos Vicentic | 15 points / 3-6 3PTs / 8 rebounds
UP NEXT
McKendree men's basketball hosts Truman State on Saturday, February 4 at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center with a 3PM tip-off.
