For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Zasada, Wildenradt lead Eureka to win in SLIAC opener

December 5, 2007

EUREKA, Ill. — The Eureka College Red Devils held Blackburn College off the scoreboard over the final five minutes to get their first win of the season, 63-50, in a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate. Still, Eureka led for most of the night, trailing only once in the second half and not at all over the last 11 minutes.

It was hardly a coincidence that it was the Eureka (1-5, 1-0 SLIAC) defense that stepped up at the end to lead the Red Devils to victory in both squads' St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener. Eureka handcuffed Blackburn (1-4, 0-1 SLIAC) to a 27.9 field goal percentage (19-68), which included a 18.5 (5-27) percent rate from behind the arc.

Eureka did not take its first lead until almost eight minutes into the game. Blackburn went right back in front, but after James Kowalski (El Paso, Ill./El Paso-Gridley) sank two free throws to lift EC on top 19-18, the Red Devils only handed back the lead once. Kowalski soon added a pair of three-pointers during a 16-2 Eureka flurry that made the score 31-20. The lead eventually expanded to 12 before the Beavers closed to within 34-26 at intermission.

The play of Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) and Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) continued to sparkle in the second half as Eureka fended off a persistent Blackburn attack. Zasada corralled a career-high 17 rebounds on top of recording 10 points, four blocked shots and three steals. His previous single game best was 12 boards. Wildenradt had a solid all-around game with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Matt McComb (Fairview, Ill./Spoor River Valley) tallied the first two points after the break for Eureka only to see Blackburn mount a 14-4 charge that knotted the count at 40. Kyle Willis dropped in a three-pointer with 11:34 remaining, giving the visitors their only lead of the half at 43-42.

The Red Devils responded by scoring the next eight points highlighted by triples on consecutive possessions by Wildenradt. But just as quickly, Blackburn came back with seven in a row to tie the score at 50-50. That is when the Eureka defense bolted down. The Red Devils forced six missed three-point attempts, two missed lay ups and three turnovers the rest of the way. EC shot a perfect 6-for-6 at the line down the stretch to extend the margin.

Though he was limited by foul trouble, Chris Beecher (Dixon, Ill./HS) played a strong game in the paint as he was one of four Red Devils in double figures with 10 points. Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) totaled 11 points, with seven coming in Eureka's 13-0 run to end the game. Kowalski led an improved bench effort with eight points.

Bryan Waters led Blackburn with 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Kyle Willis also netted 10.

The Red Devils will take on SLIAC foe Principia College for their next game on Saturday, Dec. 8. The tip-off has been pushed back to 5:00 pm from its original time.

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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