Southern Illinois News

Men's Basketball to Play William Jewell, Truman State on Home Court

McKendree University men's basketball will look for its tenth and eleventh wins of the season as they return to their home court to take on William Jewell on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Truman State on Saturday at 3 p.m.

McKendree sports a 9-10 overall record and a 5-7 record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference following a 66-62 win at home against Quincy and a 72-67 loss on the road to Illinois-Springfield.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS
McKendree averages 72.6 points per game is second in the conference with a 37.5 three point percentage in addition to third with a field goal percentage of 47.9 percent.

Defensively, the Bearcats are second in blocked shots (3.74 per game) and fourth in holding opponents to a 43.3 field goal percentage.

The Bearcats have three players averaging double-digit scoring as they are led by senior guard Bryson Bultman who averages a GLVC second-highest 16.9 points per game, grabs an average of 6.7 rebounds, and dishes out 5.37 assists per game.

Right behind Bultman, junior forward Milos Vicentic nets 15.5 points per game, shooting 53.7 percent from the field. The third Bearcat in double figures is senior guard Eric Powell II at 12.8 points per game and shooting a GLVC sixth-highest 43.2 percent from the three-point line. Powell also ranks fifth in made three-pointers per game, average 2.84.

Sophomore forward Caleb Zurliene remains at the top of the blocked shots chart in the conference with 2.00 blocks per game.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS
William Jewell holds a 10-11 record on the season in addition to an 8-5 conference record heading into Thursday's game against McKendree.

As a team, the Cardinals are fourth in defense, holding opponents to an average of 67.0 points and to shooting only 42.5 percent from the field. William Jewell tops the charts in lowest three-point percentage allowed at 32.4 percent.

Leading the Cardinals offensively is Jordan Jermain, netting 14.9 points per game while Mason Alexander averages 12.0 points for William Jewell. Alexander ranks third in three-pointers made, sinking 2.86 per game. The third Cardinal in double digits is Kobe McKinley with 11.7 per game.

Heri Tshiyoyo leads the Cardinals and the GLVC in rebounding, grabbing 9.2 per game, as well as in field goal percentage, netting 52.1 percent.

The Bearcats and Cardinals met earlier in the season in November, the Cardinals coming away with a 77-55 victory.

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Truman State is 10-11 on the season with a 5-8 mark in the conference as they will play as No.7 Indianapolis on Thursday before facing McKendree on Saturday.

The Bulldogs top the GLVC charts in free throw percentage, sinking 78.3 percent of shots from the charity stripe.

Leading the offensive charge for the Bulldogs is Elijah Hazekamp averaging 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while Hunter Strait adds an average of 11.9 points. Hazekamp ranks fourth in the GLVC in rebounding and fourth in free throw percentage (90.9 percent) while sinking a third-highest 2.86 three-pointers per game.

The Bearcats and Bulldogs will see their second matchup of the season on Saturday as McKendree took a 73-68 win over Truman State in late November.

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