ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The No.23 men's basketball team rebounded their way back into the win column with a sound effort against the Flyers of Lewis University in GLVC action, where they won 69-59 at the Neil Carey Arena in Romeoville, Illinois.
Score: McKendree University 69, Lewis University 59
Record: Bearcats 19-5, 12-4 GLVC | Flyers 4-20, 2-14 GLVC
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a shootout at the Neil Carey Arena to start the game off for the two sides, with Lewis banging in a pair of three-point shots while guards Cha'Vez Woods (Louisville, Ky.) and Rini Harris (O'Fallon, Ill.) knocked down two of their own with the fifth-year forward Noah Franklin (Cobden, Ill.) going up for the lay-in from a dish to him inside.
After a 10-2 run by the Flyers over the course of the subsequent three and a half minutes of play, McKendree then scored 13 unanswered points with Franklin contributing on nine of that number by continuing his force down low. Up by seven at that point, the Bearcats would keep afloat for the remainder of the first half, where they would end up eight with a 34-26 lead heading into the locker room.
Both squads sank in eight points to open up the second period before the Flyers canned a triple, and on the next possession was fouled on a three-point try, where they would convert on all three free throws. floater made by the Lewis offense soon after cut their deficit to just one point with 15:13 left in the game.
Yet, the momentum would shift right back into McKendree's hands, where they would utilize a 9-0 spurt behind a couple of made buckets by Harris. The O'Fallon Product and Woods would split on McKendree's next eight points, where they would lead by 11.
Lewis made a final push in getting the game to within single digits, but a shot from beyond the arc by Woods capped off any chances of a comeback, as McKendree would move forward to win 69-59.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Franklin dropped in a team-high 20 points on an efficient 8-for-13 (61.5%) to go with eight rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals.
• Woods contributed 17 points on the evening with an abundant six assists and two rebounds.
• Harris had 16 points on 5-for-8 (62.5%) shooting, including a pair of three-point shots, along with five boards and also a pair of assists and steals.
• McKendree shot 48.1% from the field, 26.1% from deep, and 59.1% from the line.
• The Bearcats outrebounded Lewis 30-23.
• McKendree held the advantage in points off turnovers (21-5), second chance points (9-7), and points in the paint (38-14).
• The Bearcats this season are now 5-0 in their next game coming after a loss.
• The team is a perfect 18-0 when leading with five minutes left in regulation and an unblemished 17-0 when up at the two-minute mark.
UP NEXT
McKendree will be back in action on Thursday, February 19th when they return home to take on the Peacocks of Upper Iowa University inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center with tip-off time coming at 7:30 PM CT.
Fans can tune in live or on-demand on the Bearcats' GLVC Sports Network with a subscription/download purchase required, as live stats will also be provided. Tickets can be purchased at mckbearcats.com.
Keep up with McKendree University Men's Basketball on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram. #GLVCmbb | #D2mbb
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