Men’s Basketball Preview: Eureka Set for Road Clash at Beloit Thursday Night

BELOIT, Wis. – The Eureka men's basketball team heads north on Thursday night, looking to bounce back and return to the win column against Beloit. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside Flood Arena, as the Red Devils continue their early-season road stretch.

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LAST TIME OUT:

Eureka (1-4) enters Thursday's matchup following a heartbreaker at Knox, where the Prairie Fire hit the winning 3-pointer with just over a second remaining to edge the Red Devils 72-69.

Andrew Coker led the way with a career-high 20 points and six rebounds, while Jaxson Provost added 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Ben Carter put together one of the most complete stat lines of the night, finishing with 10 points, five boards, five assists, three blocks, and two steals. Micah Bruer chipped in eight points and four steals as Eureka racked up 12 steals defensively.

ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS:

Beloit (1-3) is coming off its first win of the season, an emphatic 86-50 road victory over Maranatha Baptist. The Buccaneers controlled the game on both ends, shooting 45.3% from the field, 38.5% from deep, and forcing 25 turnovers that led to 25 points.

Fifth-year standout Semaj Roy has emerged as one of the top players in Division III through the first two weeks. Roy enters Thursday ranked second nationally in double-doubles (3) and 25th in rebounds per game (10.5), while averaging a team-best 16.0 points per contest. Junior guard Anthony Carter also plays a key backcourt role, averaging 13.0 points, while freshman Miles Anderson adds 8.0 per game. Senior Dae'Quan Davis contributes balance on both ends at 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per night.

The Buccaneers hang their hat on defense, ranking:

• 15th nationally in scoring defense (60.0 ppg allowed)
• 17th in opponent FG% (35.9%)
• 63rd in opponent 3FG% (26.5%)

Beloit was picked to finish 8th in the Midwest Conference preseason poll, but their defensive efficiency will make them a tough matchup for any opponent.

INSIDE THE SERIES:

Thursday marks just the third all-time meeting between the two programs. Beloit leads the series 2-0, including a 77-70 victory last season. This is Eureka's second-ever trip to Flood Arena.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Eureka remains on the road Saturday with a rematch at Monmouth. The Scots won the first meeting 90-72 in Eureka's home opener on Nov. 11. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.