CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. – The men's basketball team was out-performed early in the second half, leading to defeat against Thomas More University in non-conference action on Thursday, December 19th at the Connor Convocation Center in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. 

Score: McKendree University 65, Thomas More University 90 

Record: Bearcats 6-4, 3-0 GLVC | Saints 8-3, 3-1 G-MAC 

HOW IT HAPPENED

With McKendree's last game being a dozen days ago and Thomas More playing four contests within that span, both sides would keep in close in the opening minutes as freshman forward Jack McCune helped the Saints with seven of their first nine points as three Bearcats chipped in seven points of their own. McKendree would snag their first lead of the game after sophomore guard Justin King (Mascoutah, Ill.) and senior guard Joey Niesman (Oswego, Ill.) made their second successful layup and three-point shot, respectively, to be up by one. However, that would be their only time with the edge as Thomas More would reel off nine straight points before Head Coach George Suggs would call a timeout with 10:26 remaining in the first half and be down 12-20. 

After the timeout, neither team would make any significant run as McCune would continue to take over the first half with another nine points to add to his arsenal. The Bearcats would hold on convincingly by shooting an efficient 9-14 from the floor with six players registering a point within the latter portion of the first period. Heading into the locker rooms at halftime, the Saints would lead 45-36 with three more made shots than the visiting squad albeit on lower shooting percentages. 

Coming out of the extended break, McKendree would show a little toughness in getting to the rack to inch their way closer as senior guard Kevin Stein (Chester, N.Y.) and freshman guard Rini Harris (O'Fallon, Ill.) made due on a couple of made layups. Momentum would shift significantly towards Thomas More, where they went on a blistering 18-2 run behind four made threes from the home team with senior guard Wyatt Vieth contributing on two of them as he made one prior before the run. The Saints in blue would be up by a 67-42 advantage with a little under 10 minutes remaining. 

As many spectators have seen before, Niesman could get hot at any moment, and that was certainly the case in the next six minutes where he dropped in 12 of the squad's 16 points in hopes in cutting the deficit. Yet it was no match for a hot Saints team and McCune, as they reeled off another 45-point half to win the non-conference matchup, 90-65. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Niesman gave McKendree all he got on the floor, earning a game-high 23 points on 8-15 shooting overall, 5-10 from three-point range, and 2-2 from the line while also getting a team-high in rebounds and assists with six and three respectively. 

• King was the only other Bearcat in double figures, as he finished with 10 points in 5-8 from the field. 

• McCune was Thomas More's best player in their win as he went off for 33 points by going 12-18 from the field and 4-9 from distance while corralling seven rebounds and swatting two shots. Vieth finished with 20 points with all his buckets coming from three or the charity stripe. 

• McKendree shot 45.3% from the field, 42.9% from distance, and 66.7% from the stripe while the Saints ended with 53.7%, 46.2%, and 76.9% respectively. 

• Both teams earned 28 points from inside the paint. 

• The Bearcats were plus-five in beach points with 18. 

• Thomas More owned the offensive glass by grabbing 11 rebounds on their edn to have. 17-3 advantage on second-chance points. 

UP NEXT

McKendree will get some rest for the holidays and will be back on the court on Friday, January 3rd when they stay on the road to take on the University of Indianapolis at Nicoson Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana with tip-off set for 6:30 PM CT. 

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