LEBANON, Ill. – The University of Southern Indiana men's basketball team could not stop a hot-shooting McKendree University squad and lost an 88-82 decision Thursday evening in Lebanon, Illinois. USI goes to 12-6 overall and 5-5 GLVC, while McKendree sees its record go to 9-9, 2-8 GLVC.
 
The Screaming Eagles found themselves on the wrong end of the 40-36 halftime score after the hot-shooting Bearcats blistered the nets at a 68.2 percent pace (15-22) in the first 20 minutes. McKendree also was five-of-nine from beyond the three-point arc.
 
USI, which also got into foul trouble in the opening 20 minutes, had an early six-point advantage, 23-17, with 10:20 left in the half. McKendree, however, took advantage of a pair USI scoring droughts to outscore the Eagles, 23-13, in the final 10 minutes of the opening stanza. The halftime deficit was the fifth-straight for the Eagles.
 
The Eagles tried to regain the momentum to start the second half, cutting the halftime deficit to one point, 44-43 and 46-45, but that would be as close as USI would get the rest of the way. McKendree would rally with a 15-6 run to extend its advantage to double-digits, 61-51, with 12:46 remaining.
 
The Bearcats, who were a red hot 29-of-46 from the field and 10-of-17 from long range in the game, would lead by as many as 11 in the second half, 66-55. The Eagles would chip away at the lead, cutting the deficit to five points on two occasions before the buzzer sounded on the 88-82 loss.
 
Individually for the Eagles, USI senior guard Gavin Schumann (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the way with 23 points. Schumann was followed in the scoring column by junior forward George Edwards (Chicago, Illinois), who posted 20 points, and senior forward Austin Davis (Freeport, Illinois), who was a perfect four-of-four from long range for 12 points.
 
USI concludes its road trip Saturday at 3 p.m. at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Prairie Stars saw their record go to 8-10, 2-8 GLVC after losing to sixth-ranked Bellarmine University, 80-60.   

The Eagles leads the all-time series with the Prairie Stars, 6-2, and is 1-1 when visiting Illinois Springfield. USI won last year's meeting, 90-72, at the Physical Activities Center.
 
Following Saturday's game, USI returns to the PAC for a pair of games, including Homecoming. The Eagles are slated to play Quincy University February 5 and Truman State University February 7 in the Homecoming game.