Red Devils Unable to Complete Comeback Against Rockford

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Eureka men's basketball team fell 75-63 to Rockford on Monday afternoon at Illinois Wesleyan University after the game was relocated due to a shattered backboard during pregame warmups at Eureka.

Eureka came out strong, opening the game on a 4-0 run behind back-to-back baskets from Andrew Coker (Washington, Ill./Washington). A three-pointer from Ben Carter (Morton, Ill./Morton) and a layup by Max Richardson (LaHarpe, Ill./Illini West) pushed the Red Devils' advantage to 15-8, marking their largest lead of the afternoon.

Rockford responded with a 9-0 run to claim its first lead at 17-15 with 9:27 remaining in the first half. Dylan Logsdon (Meridian, Idaho/Mountain View) briefly swung momentum back in Eureka's favor with a three-pointer to make it 18-17, but the Regents answered emphatically. Rockford closed the half on a 15-2 surge and extended its advantage to 38-23 heading into the break, the largest lead of the night for either team.

Eureka chipped away early in the second half, as Coker scored to trim the deficit to 40-30 less than three minutes in and followed with another layup just over five minutes into the half to pull the Red Devils within single digits. A Carter three-pointer just before the under-12 media timeout brought Eureka within six at 50-44.

The Red Devils continued to apply pressure, cutting the margin to three points at 52-49 with 9:12 remaining following a free throw and layup from Micah Bruer (Washington, Ill./Washington) and a layup from Coker. Bruer's jumper moments later made it a one-point game at 52-51 with 8:23 to play.

Rockford answered with a decisive 7-0 run to restore an eight-point cushion with 5:42 remaining. Free throws from Jaxson Provost (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara) brought Eureka back within six at 5:17, but the Regents pulled away in the closing minutes to secure the 75-63 win.

Coker and Provost led Eureka in scoring with 15 points apiece. Coker was efficient, shooting 7-of-9 from the field while adding seven rebounds. Ben Carter recorded a double double with 11 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, while also dishing out three assists. Max Richardson added 10 points, and Micah Bruer chipped in nine points.

UP NEXT

Eureka returns to SLIAC action on the road at Blackburn on Saturday, Jan. 3, with tipoff set for 3 p.m. The Red Devils previously defeated the Beavers 80-77 in the first meeting between the two teams this season.