For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Eureka uses late heroics to top MacMurray in 2OT

January 16, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) may have some heating and electrical bills headed his way. The Eureka junior guard poured 30 points for his second career 30-point scoring effort, both coming in his only two career games played at a place he seemingly owns, Bill Wall Gymnasium at MacMurray College. The Red Devils needed every one of his points Wednesday night as they erased a 13-point second half deficit to outlast the Highlanders 91-87 in double overtime.

Darnall would only have scored 17 points in the game had it not been for the heroics at the end of regulation by Seth McCoy (Piper City, Ill./Tri-Point). With Eureka (3-10, 3-3 SLIAC) trailing 69-67 in the waning moments, McCoy drained a 15-foot jumper from the baseline to tie the game with six seconds remaining. MacMurray (1-12, 0-6) raced down court only to miss a potential game-winning shot at the horn from just inside the arc.

Darnall took over from there, scoring 13 points in the two overtime sessions that followed. His lay in on the first O.T. possession gave EC its first lead since the 19 minute mark of the second half. He later dropped in a pair of three-pointers for all eight of the Red Devils' points in the first overtime. Meanwhile, Billy Long did the same for MacMurray, tallying eight points on four field goals as the Highlanders rallied back from a 77-71 deficit. His last basket came as time expired on a lob pass after MacMurray in-bounded from beneath with just 1.5 seconds to play.

Eureka finally wore down MacMurray in the second extra frame. Darnall sparked a 10-0 EC run with his fifth trey on the night, giving the Red Devils a lead they would not relinquish. Eureka went up by 10 points (90-80) with 1:05 to go following a three-point play by McCoy, who scored a career-high nine points in the game. MacMurray put in seven of the final eight points to set the final score.

In the opening half, the Red Devils fell behind 10-4, but used a 19-6 spurt to take a 23-16 advantage. MacMurray came back to lead by one before a 9-3 run by Eureka put EC in front 34-29 at intermission.

Nick Schmidt, who recorded 16 points in the first half for the Highlanders, was held to just four points after halftime. He eventually fouled out with 3:34 on the clock in regulation. MacMurray found what looked to be plenty of offense from other sources, however, as the hosts buried seven three-pointers in the second half.

Eureka was hit with a 25-7 MacMurray run to begin the second half, which led to the Highlanders' largest lead of the tilt at 54-41 with 12 minutes to play. The EC defense stepped up to hold MacMurray off the scoreboard for the next four minutes as the margin was sliced down to one.

MacMurray appeared to right the ship by scoring eight consecutive points for a 62-53 edge with under five minutes to go, but the Red Devils never gave up. Darnall and Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) combined for 10 points down the stretch to get Eureka within four.

Matt McComb's (Fairview, Ill./Spoon River Valley) two free throws with 1:03 left made the count 69-67. The Red Devils held defensively, but turned the ball over on a jump ball. MacMurray's Neil Compton was fouled with 17.2 seconds on the clock, but he missed the front end of a one-and-bonus setting up the game-tying shot by McCoy.

Darnall, who recorded a career-high with 32 points at MacMurray last season, pulled down six rebounds as Eureka won the rebounding battle for the first time in nine games. He has averaged 31 points in two games played at MacMurray, and 3.5 points in two games versus MacMurray played elsewhere.

Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) registered 14 points and 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. He led Eureka with nine points in the first half. Wildenradt tied his career-high with 15 points, while handing out three assists. McComb finished with 13 points and seven boards. The Red Devils shot 41 percent, compared to 48 percent for MacMurray.

The game was the first double overtime contest for Eureka since an 81-78 loss to Webster University on November 29, 2003. Coincidently, the SLIAC-leading Webster Gorloks will be Eureka's next opponent on Saturday, January, 19. The men's tip-off is set for 1:00 pm, with the women's match up to follow at 3:00 pm.

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For More Information Contact:

Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu