NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Trevecca Nazarene University men's basketball team (2-4) won a non-conference battle verses McKendree University (2-2) 74-70 in overtime at the Trojan Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Trevecca's next game is Tuesday November 29 when they go to Alabama-Huntsville (3-1) to take on the Chargers at 7:30 PM. Trevecca is 3-5 versus Alabama-Huntsville, winning their last game in the series.

This is the ninth time these two teams have played each other in their existence, as the Trojans are 5-4 in those games. It is the first time in the seven games in the series that the home team won. The last six in the series, spanning the last three years, have gone to the visitors. The last time a home team won came in 2012 when the two schools started a home-and-home series. 
 


McKendree opened the game with an 8-0 run. The Trojans scratched the scoreboard for the first time at the 14:56 mark on a Devin Whitfield (FR/Lipscomb, AL) jumper in the paint. Trevecca never trailed by more than nine points, but the Bearcats led for most of the regulation periods. The Bearcats first established a nine-point (14-5) with 12:29 to go in the half. With 6:12 to go in the half, the McK lead was nine for the last time at 22-13. The Trojans reduced the visitors lead to three (25-22) with :52 left in the half after a 9-3 run. The Bearcats led 27-22 at the half.

Donovan Donaldson (SO/Nashville, TN) hit a three to open the second half, cutting the Bearcat lead to just two. It was the first three-pointer hit by either team as they combined to do 0-for-15 from long range in the first 20 minutes.

The MU lead hit seven (32-25) with 17:18 left. Devin Whitfield tied the game at 32-32 with 15:44 left in the second half on a three-point basket, completing a 7-0 run. The first Trojan lead (47-46) came with 8:20 to go in regulation on a Cameron Paulding (FR/Columbus, GA) jumper.

The Trojans found themselves down by seven (61-54) again with 1:30 to go. The Troajns scored seven straight to force overtime. First, Donovan Donaldson hit a three, one of his four on the night, Percy Blade (SR/Louisville, KY) laid one in, and Donaldson made two free throws with :14 left to put the game into overtime tied at 61-61. 


In overtime McKendree scored the first five for a 66-61 lead. Trevecca used a 9-1 run to take a three point (70-67) lead with 1:13 to go in overtime. Trevecca held off the Bearcats for the 74-70 win. 
 

Donovan Donaldson produced 20 points and three assists while hitting 4-of-7 from three-point land. Devin Whitfield scored 14 and added six rebounds. Jacob Williams (JR/Lebanon, TN) and Cameron Paulding added 11 each with Paulding blocking four shots and grabbing two steals and seven rebounds. Percy Blade collected 12 rebounds with five assist and six points. Dominic Obunaka (SO/Nairobi, Kenya) had two rebounds and three blocks. Sebastian Petty (JR/Horn Lake, MS) added eight points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a block.

Trevecca hit 37.5% (27-72) from the field and bench scoring 39-0. MU topped TNU in rebounding 53-46 they led in offensive rebounds 16-11.



Nolan Gerling had a double double for the bearcats as he had 33 points and 22 rebounds. He shot 11-18 from the field.

Trevecca topped McKendree 21-0 on fastbreak points and 39-0 in bench scoring. Trevecca outscored the visitors 39-34 in the second half and 13-9 in overtime.