Feehan's Triple-Double Not Enough For Eureka

For the second time in less than five weeks, the Eureka College men's basketball team and Greenville played to the highest scoring game in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history, as the Panthers came from behind to defeat the Red Devils 149-146 on Saturday afternoon at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena. The decision spoiled a 20-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double from EC sophomore Shea Feehan (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame H.S.).

Shea Feehan

The Panthers and Red Devils combined for 295 points, breaking the previous combined SLIAC scoring record of 287 set on three different occasions by Greenville and its opponents earlier this season. Eureka fell three points shy of matching its single-game team scoring record set during a 149-37 victory over Barat (Ill.) on Nov. 29, 1989.

The Red Devils held a seven-point lead (146-139) with 59 seconds to play, but GC scored 10 straight points to close the game. Johari Dix pulled the Panthers within four on a 3-pointer with 52 seconds left. Following an EC turnover, Kenny Greene brought the visitors within one, 146-145, when his deep 3-pointer banked in. Another EC turnover allowed the Panthers to take the lead, 147-146, on Shane Smith's layup with 22 seconds to play.

Down one, Eureka couldn't convert at the offensive end. GC extended the lead to three after two free throws with eight seconds left. Faced with one final chance to tie in the closing seconds, Eureka's 3-point try was partially blocked at the buzzer.

In all, the game featured six ties and 14 lead changes. Eureka overcame a 22-point first-half deficit. When the Red Devils claimed their largest lead of the afternoon, 129-121, it put the exclamation point on a 77-47 run that covered 18-minutes, 19-seconds over the middle portion of the game.

Feehan's triple-double was Eureka's first since Seth Wickert compiled 13 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists at MacMurray on Feb. 4, 2015. Feehan also had five steals Saturday.

Eureka sophomore Hank Thomas (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods H.S.) beat the GC defense for 42 points, his second 40-point game against the Panthers this season. He went 9-for-11 from 3-point range and 13-for-16 overall. Junior Kendall Davis (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S./Illinois Central) scored 32 points off the bench and freshman Jordan Dehm (Metamora, Ill./Metamora H.S.) logged his first double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Red Devils will return to action Wednesday in a 5 p.m. tip-off against Westminster at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena.

STORY COURTESY OF EUREKA COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION