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LEBANON, Ill. – Leland Brown had 21 points and nine rebounds to lead NCAA Division II No. 21 UIndy men's basketball past McKendree, 56-46, at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center on Saturday.

The difference for the Greyhounds (17-4, 9-4 GLVC) came on the glass in the Great Lakes Valley Conference game against the Bearcats (7-16, 1-12 GLVC). UIndy had a 51-30 rebounding advantage, including 15 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second chance points. That helped the Greyhounds overcome shooting 39.3 percent (22-56) from the field, 3-of-11 behind the arc and 9-of-18 at the free throw line.

UIndy's defense was also on point as it held McKendree to 29.1 percent (16-55) overall and 6-of-31 (.194) behind the three-point line.

Reece Cheatham added 13 points and season-high seven rebounds. James Hollowell also had nine rebounds for the Greyhounds and Joe Daniels added eight boards off the bench.

McKendree was paced by John Steppe with 22 points and eight rebounds.

The Greyhounds couldn't shake the Bearcats in the second half as the hosts were within one, 37-36, midway through the second half. After neither team scored for two-and-a-half minutes, the Hounds took a measure of control with a 7-0 run. Cheatham hit a three-pointer at the top of the key with the help of a ball screen and then James Hollowell and Brown tipped in misses to push the lead to eight, 44-36, with 5:56 to play.

The Bearcats came back to cut the lead to four, 48-44, but UIndy found the answer again and put the game away, 53-44, with 1:07 to play. Cheatham hit a step back jumper with four seconds on the shot clock to conclude a possession that featured a pair of offensive rebounds and took nearly 90 seconds off the clock.

Head coach Stan Gouard had to call an early timeout after the Bearcats took a five-point lead, 7-2, with 15:45 to play. The talk worked as the Greyhounds rattled off a 7-0 run to take the lead on Jared Grady's driving lay-up, 9-7, with 12:16 left in the half.

McKendree answered with a three-pointer, but Cheatham made back-to-back triples of his own to stretch the lead to five, 15-10. The Greyhounds eventually were able to stretch the lead to eight, 24-16, on an offensive rebound put-back by Brown with 4:16 in the half. The Bearcats wouldn't go quietly as they closed within three before Tyrae Robinson scored on a drive with 14 seconds left for the halftime margin, 28-23.

UIndy returns home with four of its final five games coming at Nicoson Hall. That begins next week against No. 10 Southern Indiana on Thursday and No. 23 Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday.