Caldwell County had a chance to climb above the .500 mark for the first time this season on Friday.
But a pair of key injures and a quick start by McLean County sent the Tigers to a 78-63 setback on Homecoming night in Calhoun.
Logan Patterson scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Cougars, who never trailed in the contest.
McLean (12-6) bolted to an 11-0 lead to open the contest.
Caldwell (9-10) seemed to settle down in the second period and battled back to within 26-21.
However, the Cougars got to halftime with a 35-23 lead, and the Tigers could never make a serious run the McLean in the second half.
McLean led by as much as 20 points on the way to the 15-point triumph.
Caldwell’s leading scorer, Tripp Branch, sat out his second straight game with an ankle injury. Cole Smiley missed the game with a wrist injury.
That took two starters away from the Tigers, who were outrebounded 32-19 in the contest.
Isaac Springer added 18 points for McLean while Jacob Clark had 11 and Brayden Bishop 10.
Adarius Riley led the Caldwell effort with 23 points. Jamarius Blaine had 16 and Jabrion Spikes 12.
Caldwell faces a stiff upcoming schedule next week, with road games at Marshall County, Webster County and Lyon County on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Caldwell County 8 15 16 24 — 63
McLean County 18 17 21 22 — 78
Caldwell County (9-10) — A. Riley 23, Blaine 16, Spikes 12, Ray 7, Thompson 4, Fraliex 1.
McLean County (12-6) — Patterson 27, Springer 18, Clark 11, Dame 10, Englehardt 5, Bishop 4, Phillips 3.
