For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

November 26, 2008

Red devils suffer rare defeat in home opener

Boxscore

Eureka College lost its 2008-09 men's basketball home opener Wednesday 65-54 to Monmouth College. Corey Turner scored 19 points and the Fighting Scots sank eight three-pointers in the first half to never trail in the contest. The Red Devils fell to 5-2 in home openers since 2002.

Eureka (1-3) stayed within striking distance, though Monmouth (2-3) kept the Red Devils at arm's length for most of the night. Despite committing 21 turnovers, the Scots displayed crisp ball movement and accurate jump shooting setting up 17 assists on their 23 made field goals.

Monmouth shot 49 percent (23-for-47) in the game making them the third opponent in four games to shoot at least 45 percent against the Red Devils. It has been an uncharacteristic trend for Eureka, which has allowed 45 percent shooting just 16 times in 51 games played the last two seasons.

The Scots' made five treys in the first 7:30 of the contest in opening up a 19-8 lead. Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) and Brady Wildenradt (Delavan, Ill./HS) gave Monmouth a taste of its own medicine by combining for three triples over next two minutes as Eureka got with four points at 23-19. But Monmouth bumped the margin back to 10 only moments later with back-to-back three-pointers and EC was on its heels again down by double figures.

Still, the Scots could not put the Red Devils away as Eureka went on a 7-1 spurt to again get with four at 34-30. That would turn out to be as close as EC would get the rest of the night. Eureka was held scoreless over the last three minutes leading to a halftime deficit of 39-30.

Monmouth hit on eight out of 16 three-point attempts in the first half, but Eureka held the Scots without a trey for over 11 minutes after halftime. Monmouth, too, turned up the heat defensively and EC was only able to nibble three points off the nine point deficit. Monmouth then scored seven consecutive points to grab its largest lead at 54-41 with eight minutes left.

Chris Beecher (Dixon, Ill./HS) had six of his 12 points with field goals on three consecutive possessions. On each basket, he pulled the Red Devils within seven points, with the last time coming with still almost four minutes to go. Eureka had one shot to get even closer, but a three-point attempt that would have trimmed the margin to four at the three minute mark was off the mark. Monmouth pulled away from there to win by 11.

Wildenradt and Darnall each put in three from long range to finish with 13 and 11 points respectively. The Red Devils had an off night overall from behind the arc though, making 7-of-26 for 27 percent. Eureka also recorded a season-low 37.3 field goal percentage. Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill.) led EC in rebounds for the eighth game in a row with 11. He also pitched in six points and five assists.

Eureka will continue non-conference play Saturday, November 29 with a road game at Concordia University Chicago. The tip-off in River Forest is set for Noon. The Red Devils and Cougars were old NIIC conference rivals through the 2005-06 season, but have not played since.

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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