For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

Zasada leads EC with 15 pts, 15 reb. in 2008 home finale

Boxscore

An untimely five-minute cold spell late in the second half cost the Red Devils men's basketball team a chance to upset the lone remaining unbeaten team in the SLIAC Saturday evening in Eureka. Fontbonne University out-shot Eureka College 53 percent (29-for-55) to 40 percent (25-62) en route to a 75-62 victory.

The Red Devils (2-5, 0-2 SLIAC) hand-cuffed reigning SLIAC Player of the Year Brian Fogerty to just four points and three rebounds in the opening half only to see Chris Forrest, the only Fontbonne (5-0, 2-0 SLIAC) starter not to receive All-Conference honors last season, put up 21 points, five rebounds and four assists. Forrest had 12 of his points before the break as he was 6-for-7 from the field, while his teammates combined to shoot 8-for-19.

Michael Zasada (McHenry, Ill./HS) got Eureka off to a good start, and continued at a healthy pace throughout the game. He finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, giving him his second double-double of the season.

The Red Devils tied the largest lead either side would have in the first half four minutes into the game when Mark Darnall (Lake Mills, Wis./HS) hit a three pointer for a 9-4 EC advantage. The Griffins took their first lead at the 13:18 mark during a 12-2 run that lifted them to a an 18-13 margin. Eureka twice rallied back to tie the game, but trailed at halftime 30-26.

Fontbonne forced 10 consecutive missed shots by Eureka during a stretch of over four minutes in the second half to scurry out to a 13 point lead at 46-33 with 12:25 remaining. It appeared the Red Devils' luck had gone from bad to worse when Zasada picked up his fourth foul only moments later. As it turned out, nothing was further from the truth.

Kameron Bell (Clinton, Ill./HS) helped engineer an 11-1 EC comeback that sliced the Griffins' lead to three all while Eureka's leading scorer and rebounder was on the bench. Bell recorded 10 points in just over three minutes to get EC within 51-48 at the 8:34 mark. Clint Rabbe (El Paso, Ill./HS) later twice had baskets to keep the Red Devils only down one possession.

However, Eureka never did get a shot at tying the game with a triple. Instead, Patrick McCoy hit back-to-back treys for Fontbonne during a 15-2 run that iced the game in favor of the Griffins.

Bell registered his second straight double digit scoring effort off the bench with 13. Darnall accounted for 10 points and five rebounds. He was the only Red Devil to enjoy success from long range as his teammates went a combined 1-for-17 and EC finished at a 14 percent clip from three-point territory.

Fontbonne was not much better behind the arc at 19 percent (3-for-16). Fogerty connected on 7-of-8 shots after halftime to reach his season average of 20 points. McCoy sank all three of the Griffins' treys as part of his 15 points.

The Red Devils fell to 0-3 at home, but will not have to worry about that for over a month as they play their next five games away from home stretched out over a span of 34 days. Next up is a trip to Millikin University in Decatur Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 pm. There will be a JV game played prior to the varsity contest.

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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