For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

November 28, 2006

Red Devils blitzed in OT by Vikings

The Red Devils came back from down 12 points in the first half, but could not hold a 19 point lead of their own and eventually fell 75-66 in overtime to the visiting North Park University Vikings (4-2) Tuesday night. Eureka College is now 2-2 on the season.

The game could not have begun much worse for EC. North Park never trailed in the first half after scoring nearly half of their points in the first three minutes. The Vikings made seven of their first 10 shots, racing out to a 15-3 advantage.

The Red Devils, who have held every opponent this season below 42 percent shooting, limited North Park to just three points over an eight minute span to get back into the game. Junior Matt McComb (Fairview, Ill./Spoon River Valley) scored 10 points in the final eight minutes of the half as EC slowly sliced the lead down. His three point play with just over one minute on the clock evened the score at 28, but a Mike Ventura lay in put the Vikings ahead 30-28 at intermission.

A.J. Richard (Gibson City, Ill./GCMS) brought Eureka back into a tie in the Red Devils' first possession of the second half and, just as North Park had done in the first half, EC never trailed for the remainder of the second half.

Eureka connected on just 4-of-18 from behind the three-point arc, but two came during a spirited 25-4 run to begin the half that brought the frenzied partisan crowd to its feet. Chris Tarpley (Pekin, Ill./HS) tallied eight markers and Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) and Tim Peffer (Hinckley, Ill./Hinckley-Big Rock) made treys helping Eureka take a 53-34 lead with 11:43 to play. Going back to early in the opening half, the Red Devils had outscored the Vikings 50-19 at that point over a 23 minute span.

Playing its third game in four days, but without any other option, North Park switched to a desperation pressure defense in an attempt to knock the Red Devils from their lofty perch. The gamble did not seem to work at first as Eureka still led comfortably, or so it seemed, 59-46 with just over five minutes on the clock. But, turnovers began to cost EC. To make matters worse, Eureka also missed all five field goal tries in the final five minutes, scoring just a single point during that span.

Meanwhile, the Vikings offense began clicking just in time. Nick Williams, who sparked the comeback with 14 points and six rebounds off the bench after halftime, converted a lay up to bring North Park within two at 60-58.

Sheldon Evans was fouled with 1:36 to play and knocked down two free throws to tie the count at 60. After a Eureka missed shot, North Park was called for a shot clock violation with 38 seconds left. McComb was then whistled for an offensive foul, which gave the ball back to North Park, but he quickly made up for it by blocking a three-point try by Uriah Rice with three seconds remaining. Williams had an off-balance jumper to win the game, but it bounced too hard off the backboard.

The Vikings clearly had the momentum at the end of regulation and that did not change in the overtime period. North Park never trailed in the extra session, out-rebounding EC 10-3. Williams made a pair of lay ups sandwiched around a three-pointer by Joe Capalbo as the Vikings scored eight of the first 10 points of overtime. They were able to extend their lead by making 8-of-12 foul shots after only shooting 13 freebies in regulation.

Tarpley led Eureka with 22 points on 11-of-18 from the floor and three steals. McComb added 15 and was one of four Red Devils with three assists. Richard tied for game-high honors with 10 rebounds. He also chipped in eight points. Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) corralled eight boards off the bench. Both teams shot identical 26-for-66 (39.4 percent) from the field.

Capalbo paced North Park with 15 points. Anthony Lenoir had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Vikings shot 41.2 percent (7-17) from long range. Eureka was out-rebounded for the first time this season, 47-40.

The Red Devils have just one more game before conference play begins. That contest will take place Thursday, Nov. 30 at Millikin University. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 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