College Roundup From Jan. 5-13 (Updated)

LEBANON -- Effingham St. Anthony High School graduate John Steppe had a good week last week despite the fact McKendree University picked up two losses out of three games.

McKendree defeated Quincy University 67-59 January 5. Stepped scored 22 points, pulled down six rebounds and had three steals.

In a 72-69 loss to Maryville University January 10, Steppe scored 19 points and had six rebounds.

McKendree then faced the University of Missouri/St. Louis and fell Saturday 78-54. Steppe scored nine points and had four rebounds.

McKendree is back in action Thursday hosting Lewis University.

Lincoln Land College Men 58, St. Louis Community College 53

The Lincoln Land College men's basketball team picked up a 58-53 victory over St. Louis Community College Saturday.

Two local players scored in the contest. Effingham graduate Jeremy Wohltman hit four of eight from the field, one of four from three-point range and three of four at the line for 12 points. He also had two rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Reed Willenborg, a St. Anthony graduate, hit three of six from the field, two of four from three-point range and one of two at the line for nine points. He had four rebounds, one assist and two steals.

Lincoln Land improved to 11-5 on the season.

SIUE Men 58, Tennessee Tech 54

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE men's basketball used a strong defense and a balanced offense to earn its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the year, a 58-54 victory over Tennessee Tech at Vadalabene Center.

"I thought our guys did a great job. They stepped up and made some big plays," SIUE Head Coach Lennox Forrester said. "I also thought our defense did some really good things tonight. Our guys did a great job paying attention to detail and carrying out the game plan."

The Cougars, now 5-9 overall and 1-3 in the OVC, snapped a four-game losing streak with the win. Tennessee Tech fell to 7-10 and 1-4.

Michael Messer and Jerome Jones were the only Cougars to score in double figures, but three other SIUE players scored at least seven points. Messer led the team with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Jones scored 13 points. Messer was 7 of 8 from the free throw line, including hitting five in the game's last 15 seconds.

SIUE Women 66, Tennessee Tech 56

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE center Raven Berry picked up her 28th career double-double Saturday but the Cougars dropped a 66-56 decision to visiting Tennessee Tech at the Vadalabene Center.

The loss dropped the Cougars to 7-9 overall and 1-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee Tech remained undefeated in league play at 4-0 and is now 10-7 overall.

Berry scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. She shot 7 of 10 from the field and 6 of 10 from the free throw line. She played just 28 minutes due to foul trouble.

Teutopolis graduate Jessie Wendt played five minutes and took two shots.

Tierny Austin was the only other Cougar in double figures with 16. She joined CoCo Moore for the team high in assists with four.

Jacksonville State Men 61, Eastern Illinois 55

CHARLESTON, Ill. – For the second straight game, Eastern Illinois men’s basketball battled an Ohio Valley Conference opponent until the final minute of play only to fall short of winning.  On Saturday night Jacksonville State edged EIU 61-55 in Lantz Arena.

Tarvin Gaines hit a 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining to break a 53-53 tie as JSU improved to 12-5 overall, 4-2 in the OVC.  EIU fell to 3-15 overall, 0-5 in the OVC.  EIU plays at Murray State on Thursday night.

The first half had six ties and seven lead changes as the Gamecocks led 29-26 at the half.  Gaines had 12 first half points for JSU while Austin Akers and Taylor Jones each had six points to lead EIU.  Jones was 2-of-2 from 3-point range as EIU was 3-of-5 from 3-point range in the half and 5-of-11 for the game.

Gaines extended the JSU lead to seven points on a free throw with 19:05 left in the game after Ronnie Boggs opened the half with a 3-pointer.