For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Red Devils take 1st place Gorloks to wire in 66-63 decision

January 19, 2008

EUREKA, Ill. — The Eureka College men's basketball team nearly pulled off an improbable victory over the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference leading Webster University Gorloks Saturday afternoon. However, the Red Devils wound up on the short end of a 66-63 decision after a total of five ties and 13 lead changes.

Eureka (3-11, 3-4 SLIAC) forced 22 Webster (9-5, 6-0 SLIAC) turnovers, and converted them into a 32-8 edge in points off turnovers to amazingly almost overcome a 42-16 disadvantage in rebounds. The Red Devils grabbed just seven rebounds total in the second half, yet played the Gorloks, who had won each of their five previous conference games by at least 14 points and by an average of 21.4, to a standstill at 28 points a side. Neither team gained more than a six point lead on the day.

The Gorloks, who have now won 10 consecutive SLIAC regular season games, did not lead until over nine minutes into the contest. Eureka quickly took the lead back, but Webster later went on a 10-2 attack to take its largest lead of the game at 28-22.

Webster again led by six after a trey by Ryan Turk, but Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) answered to one of his own on the next possession to get EC within three. Neither team scored over the final 2:50 of the period as the score remained Webster 38, Eureka 35 going into halftime.

The underdog Red Devils continued to pressure the Gorloks, who enjoyed the distinct size advantage in the post. Eventually, it paid off as EC mounted a 14-4 charge early in the second half to take a 49-44 lead. Matt McComb (Fairview, Ill./Spoon River Valley), who led the Red Devils with 14 points, capped off the rally by scoring the final five points.

Eureka led for the final time following Brady Wildenradt's (Delavan, Ill./HS) jumped at the fine minute mark. Webster went ahead by three points, but Chris Beecher (Dixon, Ill./HS) of Eureka twice pulled EC back within one with a pair of field goals in the final three minutes. Webster's Luke Niebrugge extended the lead back to three with just under two minutes to play. Those would prove to be the final points of the game.

The Red Devils misfired on a trio of three-point attempts in their final four possessions. Each would have tied the score. Eureka lost the ball on a turnover in the final minute with the score still 66-63, but forced a hurried missed shot by Niebrugge. Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) secured the rebound for EC, which called for time with 5.9 seconds remaining.

The Red Devils ran a well executed play down the court leading to a three-point attempt by McComb. The shot was challenged by Webster and fell shot of the mark as time expired.

Zasada had a superb all-around game for EC, tallying 11 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists. Eureka had four players score in double figures, including McComb with 14, and Darnall and Wildenradt with 10. Six Red Devils recorded multiple assists as EC had 17 assists on 23 baskets. Eureka shot well from long range, making 40 percent (10-for-25) of its three-point attempts.

Brad Robinson led Webster with 14 points and seven boards. The Gorloks shot 48 percent (27-for-56) from the field, but made only two three-pointers out of 11 tries. Eureka shot 45 percent (23-for-51) overall.

The Red Devils remain very much in the hunt in the conference race, and will need another strong effort for a win in their next game versus Greenville College, which will take place at 8:00 pm on Wednesday,
January 23 in Eureka.

###

For More Information Contact:

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