This week's SLIAC Game of the Week is a men's basketball game between Blackburn College and Eureka College. Blackburn is the two-time reigning SLIAC Champion while Eureka is off to a 2-0 conference start for the fourth straight year. The two teams will meet on Wednesday night in Carlinville, Illinois with tip set for 7:30 p.m.
Overall Record: 4-9
SLIAC Record: 2-0
SLIAC Preseason Finish: 3rd
Eureka opened up the SLIAC schedule with back-to-back wins over Greenville and Westminster last week. The Red Devils are 4th in the SLIAC at 75.8 points per game and like to push the play, averaging 65.3 shots per game. They are shooting 45.2 percent from the field and allowing 82.2 points per game on defense. The Red Devils take care of the ball, committing just 13.8 turnovers per game; the fewest in the league.
Eureka uses a balanced offense with four players averaging in double figures. They are a team that is built from the inside out with forward Cody Baer and Logan Dorethy. Baer leads the team at 15.5 ppg and is the SLIAC's top rebounder at 10.5 per game. Dorethy is averaging 14.4 ppg while shooting 52.3 percent from the field. Austyn Ellison is putting up 14.2 ppg and leads the team with 55 assists and 13 steals. Peewee Brown is a new addition, playing in the last four games, and is averaging 13.5 ppg. Noah Persich is their top outside threat with 16 threes.
Overall Record: 5-8
SLIAC Record: 1-1
SLIAC Preseason Finish: 4th
Blackburn stopped a four-game skid when they topped Spalding 71-67 on Saturday. They are averaging 78.1 points per game this season, 2nd best in the league while allowing 83.2 points. As evident by their scoring average the Beavers have had no problem shooting; ranking second in the league in field goal percentage (.458) and three-point percentage (.344). Their issue has come in rebounding where they are -6.9 in rebound margin, 7th in the SLIAC. They also are averaging a league-low 5.3 steals per game and allowing opponents to shoot 46 percent from the field.
Chanz Alridge has been an offensive force this year, averaging a league-leading 24.9 points per game; nearly seven points better than the next player. He has eleven 20-point games this season, including seven straight, with a 40-point performance against Asbury. Behind Aldridge is Troy Cole Jr., a freshman, that is averaging 12.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Izayah Talmadge (11.8 ppg) and Eliot Harrison II (8.6 ppg) give the Beavers two big men that can score inside.
The Series: Eureka leads the all-time series against Blackburn 24-9. Blackburn stopped a three-game win streak by the Red Devils in their final meeting last year, an 89-77 win in the SLIAC Tournament. Blackburn has never won back-to-back games against Eureka in the series which dates back to 2006.