For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Slow start bedevils EC in SLIAC title game re-match

January 9, 2008

EUREKA, Ill. — The names on the front of the jerseys were the same, as were many of the people wearing them. But other than having the same bench coming out on top, Wednesday night's rematch of the 2007 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title game was a far cry from the overtime thriller played last February. Eureka College was hit with a 19-3 Fontbonne University run to begin the game and never recovered in an 81-63 loss.

The Red Devils (2-9, 2-2 SLIAC) sliced the margin into single figures on four separate occasions, but could not get closer than eight the rest of the way. Eureka's best rally was a 10-1 push in the first half that took the score from 23-6 to 24-16 at the midpoint of the period.

Fontbonne (8-3, 3-1 SLIAC) scored the next eight points to balloon the lead back up to 16. Cody Myers (Ipava, Ill./V.I.T.) then hit three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt before draining a trey on the next possession to spark a 13-5 EC run that again trimmed the lead to eight. A late Griffins bucket made the halftime score 42-32.

Normally the 12 Fontbonne turnovers Eureka forced in the second half would have opened the door for an epic comeback. However, the Griffins connected at a 57 percent clip (12-for-21) from the field and 81 percent (13-for-16) at the line in the second half to keep the Red Devils at arm's length.

Matt McComb's (Fairview, Ill./Spoon River Valley) triple with 12:28 to play brought Eureka to within 57-48. Unfortunately for EC, it also represented the end of the last flurry the Red Devils could muster.

McComb led Eureka with three steals, two assists and a season-high 16 points. Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) tallied 12 points and seven rebounds. Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) and James Kowalski (El Paso, Ill./El Paso-Gridley) grabbed five caroms apiece, in addition to seven and six points respectively. The Red Devils' 30 percent (21-for-70) night from the field included a 28 percent clip from inside the three-point arc.

Brian Fogerty recorded 26 points and Patrick McCoy tallied 19 on 8-for-10 shooting to lead the Griffins. Fontbonne enjoyed a 50-28 edge on the boards.

Eureka will take on the first place Westminster College Blue Jays on the road Saturday, January 12 beginning at 1:00 pm as conference play continues. The women's contest is scheduled for 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