For Immediate Release

jacksonville, illinois

November 21, 2008

Eureka falls in game of momentum swings to Benedictine

Boxscore

The Eureka College men's basketball team again played an excellent first half, using a 23-0 run to gain a 33-30 halftime lead over Benedictine University, but eventually fell to the Eagles 81-68 in the first round of the Bill Merris Tournament hosted by Illinois College. Benedictine put together a 13-0 run in the second half to provide the winning margin in an otherwise evenly played game.

Eureka (0-2) will now take on Earlham College in the consolation game of the tournament at 1:00 pm, Saturday, November 22. The Quakers lost to Illinois College 69-54 in the first game of the day.

The Red Devils began slowly, falling behind 10-4 in the first five minutes only to play the next five in dominant fashion. Eureka scored 23 consecutive points to run out to a commanding 27-10 lead at the midpoint of the opening frame. Jordan Kindred (Chrisman, Ill./HS) served as the igniter with a three-pointer, but the next 20 points were all scored by the trio of Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS), Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) and Kameron Bell (Clinton, Ill./HS).

Zasada put in nine of his team-high 13 points for the game during the spurt, including knocking down one of three treys. Wildenradt had a three-pointer and lay up, while Bell recorded six points, capping the rally with a jumper at the 10:05 mark.

Benedictine (3-0) had six missed six shots and three turnovers while going scoreless for over six minutes. Despite trailing 31-14 with five minutes to play in the half, the Eagles nearly erased the deficit entirely before intermission. They scored 14 straight points to get within three, and actually had a shot to tie the game before Zasada sank two free throws to make sure EC would lead at the half, 33-30.

Eureka forced Benedictine into 0-for-9 shooting from long range, but failed to put away the opposition due to 13 turnovers. Benedictine would make four triples in the second half, but still only shoot 22 percent (4-for-18) behind the arc on the night.

The Red Devils went ahead by five on a Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) lay up early in the second half and after Benedictine came back to tie the score, went back ahead 37-35 on a basket by Chris Beecher (Dixon, Ill./HS) with 16 minutes remaining.

Rob Bridgeman of Benedictine turned in a three-point play on the next possession though, and the Eagles took the lead for keeps. Eureka fell behind 50-43, but Bell scored four consecutive points and Wildenradt hit two foul shots with 11:34 on the clock to get EC within one.

But the Red Devils managed just one field goal over a stretch of over seven minutes allowing Benedictine to pull in front 63-49 with six minutes to play. Just when all hope seemed lost, however, Eureka put forth one last effort to make a game of it. Three different Red Devils combined to make four treys in less than four minutes to bring EC within 70-65, and if it would not have been for the stellar free throw shooting of Benedictine, the score would have been even closer.

The Eagles connected at a 91 percent rate (19-for-21) at the line, allowing them to extend their lead back to double figures in the final two minutes. Cameron Snelling led Benedictine with 18 points and nine rebounds. The Eagles shot 59 percent from the field in the second half and 45 percent overall for the game.

Eureka, meanwhile, was led by Zasada with 13 points and nine boards. Kindred also reached double figures with 10 points. Like Zasada, Kindred hit on three out of four attempts from three-point territory. He also registered four of Eureka's five steals. Bell had 10 points off the EC bench.

The Red Devils went almost 68 minutes before finally missing their first free throw of the season. Eureka went a perfect 5-for-5 at the line in the season opener versus Western Illinois, then made their first seven against Benedictine. EC posted a healthy 46.2 field goal percentage in both halves, but handed away 27 turnovers.

###

For More Information Contact:

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