LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree University (3-3) overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to rally past Trevecca Nazarene (1-8) 80-70 Saturday night at Harry M. Statham Sports Center in a non-conference men's basketball match.

Mike DiGregorio scored a game-high 22 points and helped spark the second-half comeback for the Bearcats, who earned their third consecutive victory. John Steppe and Matt Murphy each added 17 points and four rebounds while Clinton Happe chipped in with 16 and a team-high seven rebounds. 

J.P. Nyadaro led the Trojans with a team-high 21 points, which lost its eighth consecutive game. Maliek Daniels added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Marquise Rudolph nearly recorded a triple-double for TNU as he finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and a team-high six assists.

In the first half, Trevecca would take the lead after a Peyton Henry three-pointer with 15:46 remaining and would stay ahead all the way to the halftime whistle. TNU held an 18-6 advantage in points in the paint and 10-2 in second-chance points. The Trojans led 41-35 at the break.

TNU would push their lead to 10 after a Nyadaro layup with 16:19 left in the game. The Bearcats would rally though as DiGregorio hit a jumper that fueled a 7-0 run for McKendree to pull the game to 49-46 with 13:48 remaining. McKendree continued to chip away at the deficit, and a long jumper by Murphy at the 11:01 mark pushed the Bearcats out in front at 54-53.
 
The Trojans would regain the lead (55-54) after a Daniels layup with 9:30 to go, but it would be the last lead of the game for TNU as Murphy responded with a three-pointer with 8:27 left to put the Bearcats up 57-55.

McKendree shot 45.6% (26-of-57) from the field while hitting 12 three-pointers and converting 16-of-21 (76.2%) from the free throw line.

Trevecca shot 50% (30-of-60) from the field but hit just 6-of-23 (26.1%) from three-point range.

TNU will look to bounce back against No. 10 (NABC/Division 2) Christian Brothers University (4-1) in Memphis on Dec. 4. The Bucs defeated the Trojans 69-50 back on Nov. 13.