Sunday, Nov. 01, 2009

Bearcats survive scare in opener

LEBANON -- McKendree University got a Halloween scare Saturday night.

The Bearcats, ranked fifth in the NAIA Division I poll, saw a 23-point lead in the second half cut to three with 3 1/2 minutes to play. But they closed with a 10-3 uprising that produced an 83-73 victory over Trinity International in the season opener for both teams.

"First games are always tough," said McKendree 6-foot-6 junior Eric Hobbie, who led all scorers with 21 points. "People have got those jitters ... and everybody's all excited to play. But we'll be fine. We've just got to calm down.

"We did a lot of good things tonight. We also had some stupid moments."

Hobbie was 8-for-17 from the field and had nine rebounds to go with three 3-pointers. Sophomore Sean Rakers came off the bench and had 20 points, connecting on 8-of-12 shots from the field.

Junior Brad Copelin (14 points, 10 rebounds), sophomore Karrington Pettiford (10 points, five assists) and junior newcomer RaShad May (seven points, seven assists) also enjoyed solid moments.

Patrick Atkins led the Trojans with 17 points. Trinity International was able to close its deficit because McKendree committed 24 fouls that led to 26 free throws by the Trojans and because it missed several open looks in the paint.

It also was an atypical game --or perhaps typical for a season opener --for McKendree in the turnover department, as it finished with 21. Trinity International was even worse with 25 miscues.

Bearcats coach Harry Statham, who bagged his 996th career win, wasn't exactly impressed.

"They played very well," Statham said of the Trojans. "I was a little disappointed in our rebounding, shooting and overall play. We had a tough time getting untracked and getting going. In stretches, we were pretty good. We just never got going. I wasn't happy with the defense or the offense."

Jason Frost's free throw cut McKendree's lead to 73-70 with 3:39 to play. That's when the Bearcats began their strong finish, which began with two free throws by Pettiford and was followed by a layup by May, a free throw by Rakers and a layup by Hobbie that made it 80-70.

"It was probably a typical first game," said Statham, who was most encouraged by the Bearcats' free-throw shooting (19-for-27).

McKendree was true on four of its first five shots from the field, including three straight by Hobbie, to take an early 9-3 lead. Hobbie's dunk on an assist by May made it 11-3 at the 15:57 mark and gave Hobbie 1,001 career points.

After the Bearcats built their lead to 18-6, Trinity International went on a 15-6 surge that cut its deficit to 24-21 with 8:29 left in the half.

But McKendree answered with a 12-0 run to lead 36-21, and Hobbie finished off the half with a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 45-26 at the intermission. Hobbie had 14 points at the half and was 6-for-9 from the field.

McKendree was 19-for-34 overall (56 percent).

The Bearcats were without junior point guard Andy Wolff, sidelined by an ankle injury suffered in practice late in the week. Pettiford started for Wolff, who is expected to be able to play Wednesday against visiting Lindenwood.

Nate Clay Award

Eric Palm, who finished his playing career in March, was named the 31st annual recipient of the annual Nate Clay Award in a pregame ceremony.

The award is given to the former McKendree player who most exhibited courage, determination and inspiration.

Clay played at McKendree in the 1960s. He was injured in a slow-pitch softball game in June 1970 and was paralyzed. He died in July 2001.