Strong Shooting Night Not Enough in Loss at MUW

COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Eureka men's basketball team closed out its road trip Saturday afternoon with a 79-71 loss at MUW, despite a season-best shooting performance from beyond the arc.

The Red Devils knocked down 15 three-pointers, their most in a game this season, and leaned heavily on the trio of Jaxson Provost (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara), Jonah Lauff (Pana, Ill./Pana), and Andrew Coker (Washington, Ill./Washington Community), who combined for 56 of Eureka's 71 points.

MUW set the tone early, jumping out to a 9-4 lead before Eureka battled back. A three-pointer from Provost and a layup by Ben Carter (Morton, Ill./Morton) helped tie the game at 9-9. After MUW moved back in front 13-12, Coker buried a triple to give the Red Devils their first lead of the day.

The lead changed hands eight times throughout the opening half. Provost drained another three to put Eureka ahead 20-18, while Dylan Logsdon (Meridian, Idaho/Mountain View) added a triple and Jacob Gonzalez (Los Angeles, Calif./Chatsworth Charter) converted a layup to give the Red Devils a 25-24 edge. MUW closed the half on a strong push, however, taking a 38-34 lead into the break.

MUW scored first in the second half, but Carter answered with a three to cut the deficit to one possession at 40-37. After a free throw extended the Owls' lead, Coker knocked down another triple to make it a one-point game, 41-40. MUW responded with a 7-0 run to stretch the margin to 48-40.

Provost and Lauff combined for back-to-back buckets to trim the deficit to 52-48, but each time Eureka threatened, MUW had an answer. A three from Lauff pulled the Red Devils within five, but the Owls built the lead to double digits and pushed it to 12 with 4:24 remaining, their largest advantage of the night.

Eureka made one final push late. A three from Provost brought the Red Devils within five with under two minutes to play, and Lauff followed with another triple to make it 75-71 with one minute remaining, but that would be Eureka's final points, as MUW closed the game at the free throw line to secure the 79-71 win.

Provost led Eureka with 22 points. Coker added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Lauff scored 17 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting performance, including three from beyond the arc. Carter finished with eight points and four rebounds.

UP NEXT

Eureka returns home Wednesday to host SLIAC-leading Webster at 7:30 p.m. The Gorloks enter the contest unbeaten in conference play at 12-0.