For Immediate Release
greenville, illinois
January 28, 2009
Zasada cards 3rd double-Double in 4 games in loss to greenville
Boxscore
The second round of St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play began the same way as the first go-round, which was not a good thing for the Eureka College Red Devils, who dropped a single digit decision at Greenville College 84-76 Wednesday night.
The Panthers (9-9, 6-3 SLIAC) shot 64 percent (18-for-28) in the second half to overcome a hot start by the Red Devils (6-11, 4-5 SLIAC). Greenville controlled the paint to the tune of a 44-26 scoring advantage and 45-33 rebounding edge.
Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) found the range early and often, connecting three times from behind the arc en route to 13 points in just over eight minutes. Eureka sank six three-pointers in all during the same span in opening up a 26-14 lead with a 17-4 run.
Chris Hohm of Greenville came back with the next seven points, followed by a LaPhonso Ellis trey that cut the EC advantage to two. The lead would change hand three times before the halftime gun. Eureka went ahead on a layup by Kameron Bell (Clinton, Ill./HS) only to see Ben Cochran lift Greenville to a 38-37 edge on a basket with three seconds left.
The difference in the two squads' attacks was stark in the first half as Eureka fired up 18 three-point attempts, while Greenville took just four behind the arc. The second half was no different except for Eureka making four from three-point territory compared to seven in the opening frame.
Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) pulled EC even with the Panthers at 40 with a three-pointer early in the second half, then Bell put Eureka in front with two free throws. After a Cochran trey, Wildenradt set up a Zasada dunk, which was followed by a Jordan Kindred (Chrisman, Ill./HS) layup that put the Red Devils on top 46-43.
The Red Devils' fortunes reversed over the next seven minutes, missing eight consecutive field goal attempts during an 18-2 Greenville march. The turn of events left Eureka trailing by the largest margin on the night, 61-48 at the 11 minute mark.
Murad Abbed (Danville, Ill./Bismarck-Henning) and Wildenradt dropped in triples on consecutive Eureka possessions to get the deficit back under ten, where is would stay for most of the remainder of the contest.
With six minutes to go, Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) knocked home a jumper making the count 67-60 in favor of Greenville. Hohm scored for the Panthers on the next possession, then Greenville converted offensive rebounds into baskets the next two times down the court to regain a 13 point lead with 4:23 to play.
But still the Red Devils were far from done. Eureka scored seven of the next eight points capped by an Alex Sides (Eureka, Ill./HS) layup with 2:46 remaining to get within 74-67. Later, Bell hit two free throws with 59 seconds on the clock to drop the margin to six.
The Red Devils caught a break when Greenville missed a pair of free throws, and got the ball in the right player's hands for an open three-pointer. Zasada, who had already scored 25 points and needed three more to tie his career-high, just missed a three-pointer that would have sliced the Greenville advantage in half.
Instead, the Panthers grabbed the rebound and missed a the foul line again. But this time, Greenville corralled the key offensive rebound, was fouled and made both free throws to increase the lead to 82-74 with only 29 seconds to go.
Zasada finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season and third in his last four games. He had three steals and three assists as well. Bell tallied 19, while Wildenradt recorded 11 giving EC three in double figures. Kindred had seven points, six boards and five assists. Abbed pitched in six points and four rebounds off the bench. The Red Devils forced 18 turnovers, exchanging them in for a 31-20 advantage in points off turnovers.
A.J. Brooks led a powerful Panthers attack inside with 17 points and eight rebounds. Hohm provided a lift off the Greenville bench with 15 points, seven caroms and three steals. The Panthers led in bench points 36-10.
Eureka's next game will be Saturday, January 31 at 5:00 pm on the road versus Fontbonne University, which moved into a tie for first place in the conference following Wednesday's action. The Griffins have won five games in a row, and took the first meeting with the Red Devils this season in Eureka 75-62 on December 6.
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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
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