Red Devils Roll Past Knox, 84-57

GALESBURG, Ill. -- The Eureka College men's basketball team continued its best start to a season in nearly three decades Saturday afternoon, rallying from an early deficit to earn an 84-57 non-conference triumph over Knox in Galesburg, Ill. Junior Kendall Davis (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S./Illinois Central) scored a game-high 31 points for the Red Devils.

The victory gave EC a 4-0 overall record, the Red Devils' best start to a season since the 1990-91 campaign. Additionally, the 27-point margin of victory was Eureka's biggest true road victory over an NCAA Division III opponent since beginning an exclusive affiliation with Division III prior to the 1996-97 season.

The Red Devils overcame a slow start Saturday before utilizing a 17-7 burst to force a 25-25 tie when sophomore Shea Feehan (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame H.S.) drilled a 3-pointer with 8:13 remaining before halftime. Eureka collected its first lead of the day on its next possession on a 3-pointer from sophomore Hank Thomas (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods H.S.) for a 28-25 cushion.

Eureka wouldn't trail again, eventually taking a 38-32 lead into the locker room.

Knox pulled back within five (44-39) at the 15:46 mark of the second half on Robert Suntken's field goal, but EC responded with a 10-0 run on points from five different players for a 54-39 lead. The Red Devils held KC scoreless for a stretch of more than seven minutes during the run before Marcellis Davis finally hit two foul shots for the Prairie Fire with 8:28 left.

Davis scored 31 points on a 14-for-23 effort from the floor. He also led the Red Devils with eight rebounds. Feehan went 9-for-16 for his 25 points and tacked on five assists. Eureka forced 25 KC turnovers that led to 35 EC points. A total of 16 Red Devils saw the floor Saturday.

Eureka had been 0-7 versus the Prairie Fire in games played in Galesburg since 1974. Overall, the two squads have split 14 contests in that same time frame.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Red Devils. EC will host Monmouth Sunday at 3 p.m. at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena.