Eureka jumps on Principia early for Wilde's 99th victory

ELSAH, Ill. – Eureka College senior guard Tommy Goulding (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora [Aurora]) erupted for a season-high 27 points, pacing the Red Devils to a 101-80 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Principia Panthers, Saturday afternoon inside the Crafton Athletic Center.

Eureka's victory moves them to 7-10 overall and 5-5 in conference play, while the Panthers drop to 3-12 overall and 0-10 in the SLIAC.

Saturday's victory was number ninety-nine for head coach Chip Wilde. His 99 career wins rank fourth in program history and trail only Eureka College Hall of Famers Dave Darnall (383), Leo "Doc Traister (168) and Ralph McKinzie (121) on the list.

Eureka never trailed in the contest, scoring the first five points of the contest and cruising to a 51-27 halftime lead.

Goulding shot a sizzling 10-of-17 (.588) from the field, including 6-of-13 (.462) from the three-point line.

Senior guard Sam Feehan (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame [Illinois Central]) added 18 points and six assists.

Jacob Sall (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) and Gabe Burgos (Sheldon, Ill./Milford), a pair of EC freshman, registered their first collegiate baskets in the contest.

PC's Amunu Adaku, the conference's leading scorer, dropped a game-high 34 points. Parker Davidson added a double-double, tallying 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the host.

Eureka returns to the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. tip-off against the Spalding Golden Eagles.