For Immediate Release

st. louis, missouri

January 31, 2009

Kindred's heroics in last seconds cap EC rally from 23 point deficit

Boxscore

Jordan Kindred's (Chrisman, Ill./HS) layup with 2.4 seconds remaining capped a miraculous 23-point comeback, and even wilder ending, as the Eureka College Red Devils stole a 97-96 SLIAC victory from the jaws of defeat at Fontbonne University. Eureka trailed by 12 points with less than three and a half minutes to play, but outscored Fontbonne 21-8 the rest of the way to knock the Griffins out of first place in the conference.

The final 2.4 seconds accounted for the entire time Eureka led on the day. There were no ties and just one lead change in the game.

It was remarkable that the Red Devils (7-11, 5-5 SLIAC) were even as close as 12 to begin their desperation rally, seeing as how they were down by 23 points earlier in the second half. The Griffins (11-7, 7-3 SLIAC), who led 53-41 at halftime, raced out to a commanding 72-49 advantage at the 12:45 mark of the second half by outscoring EC 19-8 to begin the frame.

Fontbonne's Chris Forrest, who scored 21 against Eureka in the teams' first meeting, was nearly unstoppable on the day. He hit 6-of-7 field goal attempts, including 5-of-6 from three-point territory in the first half alone for 17 points. As a team, the Griffins dropped in 9-of-17 from behind the arc before halftime. They shot 60 percent overall in the half, but Eureka shot a more than respectable 52 percent and hit six treys to stay within range.

Forrest had a pair of triples as Fontbonne put Eureka in a significant early hole at 16-2. The Griffins' largest lead of the first half was 19 points at 50-31 with four minutes left. Eureka finished the frame on a 10-3 spurt thanks to a three-point play and jumper by Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) and three-pointer by Kameron Bell (Clinton, Ill./HS).

In a game that featured 193 points, it would seem defense would not play a key role in the game, but that was not the case for Eureka. Although the Red Devils surrendered the most points in a game in almost two years, they forced 23 Fontbonne turnovers, took away 16 steals and enjoyed a 40-14 edge in points off turnovers.

Forrest hit two free throws for a 72-49 Fontbonne lead, capping a 10-0 Griffins run with 12:45 remaining. The Red Devils then cranked up the heat defensively to get back in the game. They forced four turnovers and four missed shots during a 14-2 flurry that brought EC within 74-63 with 9:08 to play.

The upset-minded Red Devils were far from done. Bell sliced the deficit to nine with a jumper at the eight minute mark. Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) followed with a three-pointer that cut the margin to seven less than two minutes later. Bell then got Eureka within 81-76 on a put-back layup with 5:43 on the clock. All the while, turnovers mounted on the Fontbonne side. The Griffins gave the ball away 15 times in the second half. All but two of them came in the final 12 minutes of the contest.

Zasada's three-point try from the wing that would have cut the lead to two bounced off the rim, and Fontbonne came close to pulling out to an insurmountable lead by taking the next seven points for a 88-76 lead with just 3:20 remaining,

The Red Devils misfired in the ensuing possession, but Alex Sides (Eureka, Ill./HS) grabbed the rebound for EC and found Zasada open for three to get Eureka within nine. That play seemed to be the elixir Eureka needed as it began an amazing stretch of outside shooting. The Red Devils knocked down three-pointers on four straight possessions.

Sides took matters into his own hands the next time down, making his first three-pointer of the season. Then Clint Rabbe (El Paso, Ill./HS), who has become somewhat of a secret weapon off the bench this season for the Red Devils, canned back-to-back treys, with the second coming from deep behind the three-point line. Rabbe had already made one three earlier in the half, but this time, he pulled Eureka to within 90-88 with 1:51 left.

Eureka got another stop defensively and had a shot to take the lead, but could not connect. It appeared all hope was lost once again as the Griffins sank four free throws, while Eureka missed three straight shots. Fontbonne had a 94-88 and possession, but Eureka forced a turnover and Zasada connected on a three-pointer to cut the margin to three. Moments later, another Fontbonne turnover was stolen away by Zasada, who founds Sides for a fast break layup making the score 94-93.

The Griffins were able to run some time off the clock before EC was able to foul Josh Branch with just 5.9 seconds to play. Branch bounced in the first free throw, then swished the second, putting Fontbonne ahead 96-93. Eureka raced up the floor, but Kindred was fouled before he could get a potential game-tying three-pointer launched. With 3.9 seconds on the clock, Kindred sank both free throws again shrinking the deficit to a single point.

The Griffins set up for the in-bounds pass, but the ball tipped off the intended target right to Kindred, who not only found himself alone right underneath the basket, but also perhaps the only person in the building not in a state of shock because of what had just happened. He quickly scooped up a bank shot that went in with 2.4 seconds left. The Griffins could not off a desperation shot at the end.

Zasada led Eureka with 20 points, marking the fourth consecutive game he has tallied at least 20 points. He also registered eight rebounds and four steals. Bell finished with 13 points, three steals and a team-high nine boards. Kindred was a perfect 6-for-6 at the line en route to 12 points. Wildenradt and Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) each dished out four assists. The Red Devils set season-highs in points (97), three-pointers (14), assists (22) and steals (16).

Bench play was a huge factor in the outcome of the game. The Eureka reserves not only outscored the Fontbonne bench 39-6, but also put forth a strong defensive effort. In the middle portion of the second half, as many as four reserves were on the floor for EC as the Red Devils began their comeback. Murad Abbed (Danville, Ill./Bismarck-Henning) set a career-high with 10 points as did Andy Leppard (Crescent City, Ill./Crescent-Iroquois) with nine points. Rabbe and Sides also tallied nine points.

All five Fontbonne starters reached double figures led by Forrest with 27 points. Brian Fogerty had 23 points and 17 rebounds. The Griffins' 89 percent (23-for-26) free throw shooting nearly saved them. They shot a lofty 45 percent (13-for-29) from three-point territoy as well.

The Red Devils completed a stretch of four of five games away from home with a 3-2 record, moving their road record to 5-4. Their lone home game during the span resulted in a loss, dropping EC to 1-4 at home. That will be something Eureka will try to rectify starting Wednesday, February 4 with an 8:00 pm tip-off against Webster University in a key SLIAC battle. The Gorloks will be looking for revenge after falling at home to Eureka 80-76 on January 17.

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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