For Immediate Release

st. louis, missouri

February 3, 2007

Chris pulls Tarp over Saints in EC's 6th straight win

Eureka's Chris Tarpley (Pekin, Ill./HS) had a double-double by halftime and A.J. Richard (Gibson City, Ill./GCMS) netted 16 points in the second half as the EC men's basketball team won its sixth straight St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game by topping Maryville University 74-66 Saturday afternoon. Eureka's last winning streak of at least six games occurred during the 1993-94 season in which the Red Devils won the NAIA II National Championship with a 27-4 record.

Maryville (5-15, 4-9 SLIAC) held the lead for less than a minute in the game. Tarpley moved Eureka (13-6, 10-3 SLIAC) ahead 5-4 with a jumper at the 18:29 mark of the first half and EC did not trail again.

The Red Devils did not take firm control until just past the midpoint of the opening frame. Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) converted an old fashioned three-point play followed by back-to-back three-pointers from behind the arc from Tim Peffer (Hinckley, Ill./Hinckley-Big Rock) and Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS). Matt McComb (Fairview, Ill./Spoon River Valley), who scored in double figures for the ninth consecutive game, capped an 11-0 EC run with two free throws making the count 24-12.

The Red Devils held a 32-22 margin at halftime after 10 points and 12 boards from Tarpley in 15 minutes before the break. The Saints were limited to 23 percent (8-35) overall and 1-for-12 from three-point territory.

The second half was a back and forth affair with Eureka staying on top by at least 10 points for most of the half. Senior Mike Fredericks (Washburn, Ill./Lowpoint-Washburn) had four points as EC took its largest lead of the game at 50-28 with 15:51 left after a 10-0 spurt. The Saints marched right back to within 10 (51-41) after a 13-1 run, but Eureka scored seven of the next eight points to go up 59-42.

Maryville cut the deficit to 59-50 thanks to an 8-0 rally with eight minutes remaining and later scored seven straight points to slice it down to six, 67-61, at the 1:50 mark. But that was as close as the game would get. McComb hit all four free throw attempts in the final 26 seconds to preserve the EC advantage.

Richard led all players with 20 points on 10-for-13 shooting in 16 minutes of action. Tarpley finished with a career-high 19 rebounds, three more than the next highest total by any player in a SLIAC game this season, and 16 points. Peffer had seven off the EC bench, which outscored the Maryville bench 17-7. McComb and Wildenradt dished out six assists apiece. Eureka shot 47 percent (27-58) for the game, but just 21 percent (3-14) from long range.

Michael Bolinger led four Saints in double figures with 18 points. Aaron Steinke added 15 points and nine boards. With a slim 45-42 edge, Maryville became the first team to out-rebound EC in nine games.

Eureka is tied for first place in the league standings, one game ahead of Tuesday's opponent MacMurray College. Game time on Tuesday, February 6 is set for 6:00 pm in Jacksonville. The Highlanders dealt the Red Devils their only home conference loss of the season January 16, 69-62. The women's game will follow at 8:00 pm.

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For More Information Contact:

Brian Sullivan

Sports Information Director

Eureka College

300 E. College Avenue

Eureka, Illinois 61530

309-467-6456

bsullivan@eureka.edu