For Immediate Release

st. louis, missouri

January 17, 2009

New left Grant-ed: Kindred leads EC to 3rd straight SLIAC win

Boxscore

Grant Gymnasium at Webster University owed Eureka College one. That debt came due just when the Red Devils needed it most in a key SLIAC conference match up as Eureka defeated Webster 80-76 Saturday evening. The two previous games Eureka had played at Webster included an overtime loss in the SLIAC Tournament championship game in 2007 and an 86-56 blowout defeat to Webster last season in a game EC had to win to get into the league playoffs.

Eureka (5-9, 3-3 SLIAC) was out-rebounded 88-44 combined in two defeats against Webster (6-8, 3-3 SLIAC) last season. It would be an understatement to say that rebounding would be a focal point for Eureka this go-round. Mission accomplished. The Red Devils attacked the offensive glass for a 15-5 edge in second chance points, earning a 39-31 victory on the boards. Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) led the charge for EC, carding his third double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 boards.

Of course, a breakout game by Jordan Kindred (Chrisman, Ill./HS) did not hurt the Red Devils' chances either. The freshman point guard exploded for a career-high 20 points, including four three-pointers. He was even better inside the arc, making all four attempts to finish 8-for-11 for the game.

The opening half was a leap-frog affair as seven lead changes did not allow either bench much breathing room. Webster enjoyed a brief six point advantage, but it would be Eureka that would emerge with the halftime lead. The Red Devils scored 11 of the final 13 points of the half, with key triples hit by Kindred and Andy Leppard (Crescent City, Ill./Crescent-Iroquois), whose came just before the horn, putting EC in front 38-32.

Webster came out hot in the second half, taking a 41-40 lead with a quick 9-2 spurt. The Eureka offense met fire with fire as the Red Devils scored on their next seven possessions for a 10-point edge, 55-45. Leading the 15-4 Eureka surge was Zasada with seven points and Kameron Bell (Clinton, Ill./HS) with five.

The Gorloks fought back like the defending conference champions that they are, however. Brady Wildenradt's (Delavan, Ill./HS) three-pointer with 10:40 to play was Eureka's only points over a span of seven and a half minutes during a 16-3 Webster rally. Doug Stiegemeier gave the Gorloks the lead on a layup with 5:36 to play. That was answered by another Kindred trey as the lead began to switch back-and-forth again.

Webster tied the game at 71 on a three-point play before a layup by Bell lifted Eureka into the lead for keeps at the 2:18 mark. Bell later hit two free throws and Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) sank a clutch jumper with 37 seconds on the clock for a 77-72 Eureka lead. A few missed free throws down the stretch (Eureka shot 53 percent at the line) resulted in some tense moments, but the Red Devils were able to stay two possessions ahead, never giving the Gorloks a look at a tying shot.

The win is Eureka's first over Webster in five tries as a member of the SLIAC. It gives the Red Devils their first three-game winning streak since February 27, 2007.

Bell tied Kindred for game-high honors with 20 points. It is Bell's third 20-point game of the season. Darnall and Wildenradt each recorded eight points. Wildenradt dished out five assists. Six different Red Devils made a three-pointer as the team finished 12-for-29 (41 percent) from behind the arc.

Four Gorloks scored in double figures led by Ryan Turk and Scott Restoff with 16 each. Turk, a first team all-conference performer last season, handed out seven assists as well. Webster out-shot Eureka from the field 52 percent to 47 percent.

Eureka has another tough road game next as they prepare to travel to MacMurray College for an 8:00 pm tip-off Wednesday, January 21. Both squads are in the thick of the conference race. The Red Devils survived a wild 91-87 double overtime decision in their visit to Jacksonville last year, then topped the Highlanders 88-64 at home.

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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