Posted: Nov 17, 2025
Men's Basketball Preview: Red Devils Look to Rebound in Trip to Knox
Eureka
(1-4,0-0 SLIAC)
69
Knox
(3-1,0-0 Midwest Conference)
72
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Eureka (1-4,0-0 SLIAC) | 28 | 41 | 69 |
|
Knox (3-1,0-0 Midwest Conference) | 30 | 42 | 72 |
GALESBURG, Ill. – The Eureka men's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday night, traveling to Knox for a non-conference matchup at Memorial Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. as the Red Devils look to snap a three-game skid and get back in the win column.
LAST TIME OUT:
Eureka (1-3) enters the game following a challenging weekend at the Lopata Classic, where they faced one of the toughest fields in Division III. The Red Devils dropped matchups to No. 5 WashU and UW-Whitewater, but junior guard Jaxson Provost continued his strong early-season form, earning a spot on the Lopata Classic All-Tournament Team. Provost leads the SLIAC in total points (78) and ranks second in the league in scoring at 19.5 points per game.
Eureka will also lean on senior forward Ben Carter, the team's top rebounder at 6.8 boards per game, and junior guard Micah Bruer, who leads the Red Devils with 3.0 assists per contest.
ABOUT THE PRAIRIE FIRE:
Knox enters Tuesday's matchup at 2-1 and was picked ninth in the Midwest Conference preseason coaches' poll after finishing 4-21 last season. The Prairie Fire return key contributors across the lineup, including Josh Stewart, who leads Knox in scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg), and senior forward Russell Wright, who averaged 8.4 points and 6.1 rebounds a year ago while providing strong interior defense.
Sophomore forward Willie Rogers III, the team's only returning player who started at least half of last season's games, adds a scoring punch on the perimeter after averaging 7.2 points and 32 made threes as a freshman. Senior forward Carl Dortch and sophomore guard B.J. Cooley return as experienced rotation pieces, while a deep group of newcomers, including eight freshmen and two transfers, rounds out the roster.
Through three games, Knox has shown significant improvement statistically from a year ago, posting a +11.0 rebounding margin and holding opponents to 38.0% shooting.
INSIDE THE SERIES:
Eureka leads the all-time series 11-7, including a 7-2 record against Knox during the Chip Wilde era. The Red Devils won the most recent meeting between the programs 96-88 at home on Nov. 17, 2021. Knox holds the edge in Galesburg (7-3), while Eureka is undefeated at home in the matchup (8-0).
LOOKING AHEAD:
Eureka will remain on the road later this week, traveling to Beloit on Thursday at 7 p.m. to take on the Buccaneers.