Career Nights Fuel Eureka’s Win Over Greenville

EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka men's basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak to Greenville in emphatic fashion Monday night, outlasting the Panthers 130-125 in a back-and-forth shootout that featured 15 lead changes and 13 ties. The 130 points marked Eureka's highest scoring output since January 2020.

The opening 20 minutes were played at a blistering pace, with both teams trading fast-break baskets and second-chance points from the opening tip. Greenville leaned on Elijah Goad and Tim Lofton to score off turnovers and offensive rebounds, while Eureka countered with repeated finishes in the paint from Max Richardson (LaHarpe, Ill./Illini West) and Damuzha Moore (Champaign, Ill./Urbana) off the bench.

Micah Bruer (Washington, Ill./Washington Community) and Jonah Lauff (Pana, Ill./Pana) knocked down key threes to answer Greenville spurts, and Jaxson Provost (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara) consistently pushed the tempo, leading to multiple transition layups. Neither side led by more than a few possessions, and the half ended fittingly tied at 64-64 after another exchange of late baskets.

Eureka seized control early in the second half with an 11-2 run fueled by Bruer in transition and Richardson finishing at the rim, stretching the lead to double digits. Greenville responded behind Goad's perimeter shooting and Joshua Williford's drives, cutting the deficit several times, but Eureka repeatedly answered with paint touches and fast-break scores.

Moore delivered a dominant scoring burst midway through the half to keep the Red Devils in front, while Provost continued to create offense with assists leading to layups and open threes. Greenville made a final push behind late baskets from Lofton and Williford, but Eureka's efficiency at the rim and ability to score immediately after turnovers allowed the Red Devils to close out the win.

Moore poured in a career-high 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting off the bench. Bruer added a career-high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting with four made threes, while Richardson scored a career-best 18 points. Provost finished with 16 points and 12 assists. Coker controlled the glass with a career-high 14 rebounds, while Ben Carter (Morton, Ill./Morton) tallied 11 rebounds and 13 assists. In total, four Red Devils scored or matched career highs in points.

The victory boosts Eureka into seventh place in the SLIAC standings, just a half-game behind sixth-place Blackburn. The top six teams will qualify for the conference tournament.

UP NEXT

Eureka hits the road for a pivotal conference matchup Saturday against eighth-place Westminster, which defeated the Red Devils 96-79 earlier this season. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.