Late Free Throws Lift Red Devils Past Westminster

FULTON, Mo. – The Eureka men's basketball team survived a late thriller on the road Saturday afternoon, defeating Westminster 71-69 in a back-and-forth SLIAC battle that came down to the final seconds.

The opening 20 minutes were filled with runs from both sides as neither team could gain full control. Westminster jumped out to an early 7-2 advantage, but a three-pointer from Jaxson Provost (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara) helped Eureka chip away and settle in. The Red Devils trailed through the first six minutes before Ben Carter (Morton, Ill./Morton) buried a triple to knot the score at 16-16.

Provost gave Eureka its first lead moments later, but Westminster responded with multiple scoring spurts to stay in front. Each time the Blue Jays made a push, Eureka had an answer. Back-to-back threes from Jonah Lauff (Pana, Ill./Pana) and Carter swung momentum, and after falling behind 30-26, Provost erupted for seven straight points to put the Red Devils back on top. A layup from Micah Bruer (Washington, Ill./Washington Community) and a three by Andrew Coker (Washington, Ill./Washington Community) capped a 9-0 Eureka run, sending the Red Devils into the locker room with a 38-34 lead.

Eureka built on that momentum to start the second half. Max Richardson (LaHarpe, Ill./Illini West) scored the opening basket and later delivered a transition dunk as the Red Devils stretched the margin to seven. A three-pointer from Damuzha Moore (Champaign, Ill./Urbana) gave Eureka its largest lead of the night at 59-49 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Westminster refused to fold, using a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to two and eventually reclaim the lead, 67-65, with just over two minutes to play. Provost calmly answered at the free throw line to tie the game, and after a pair of Westminster missed free throws, Coker attacked the paint for a layup that put Eureka back ahead, 69-67, with 41 seconds left.

The Blue Jays tied it once again with 22 seconds to go, setting up one final possession for the Red Devils. With nine seconds remaining, Coker drove to the rim and drew contact, then sank both free throws to give Eureka a 71-69 edge. Westminster had multiple good looks in the closing seconds, but the shots would not fall as Eureka escaped with the win.

Provost led the way with 22 points and three steals. Coker added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Carter controlled the glass with 10 rebounds to go with eight points. Bruer contributed seven rebounds, and Moore and Lauff each added six points off the bench.

The victory marks Eureka's second straight SLIAC win and keeps the Red Devils tied with Blackburn for the final conference tournament spot at 4-7 in SLIAC play.

UP NEXT

Eureka remains on the road for an extended trip, traveling to face Lyon on Thursday before taking on MUW on Saturday.