Photo courtesy of Michael Hammerstrand.
Photo courtesy of Michael Hammerstrand.

Feehan, Red Devils Shoot Down Blackburn, 101-83

EUREKA, Ill. – Eureka College sophomore guard Shea Feehan (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame H.S.) delivered his third consecutive double-double with 39 points and 12 rebounds, including a 16-for-16 effort from the free throw line, leading the Red Devils to a 101-83 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Blackburn, Saturday night at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena. 

A back-and-forth first period saw neither side gain much separation until a 3-pointer from Eureka freshman Jordan Dehm (Metamora, Ill./Metamora H.S.) capped an 8-0 EC run and gave the hosts a 31-21 advantage with 7:45 left in the half. The 10-point lead remained as late as the 4:28 mark of the period, but BC managed to close the gap. A dunk and jumper by DeAndre Manuel allowed the Beavers to creep within a single point, 45-44, before the first-half horn.

The Red Devils never trailed in the second half. Feehan's 4-point play with 17:05 to go pushed the Eureka lead back to 10, 57-47. Blackburn pushed back by scoring 18 of the next 29 points to trail 68-65 after a layup by Tommy Childs, but Eureka withstood the charge and promptly regained the double-digit advantage when Feehan connected from 3 for a 77-65 cushion with 10:12 left.

Eureka kept a healthy distance from the Beavers from that point forward. The EC advantage swelled to as many as 20 when Feehan's lay-in in allowed the Red Devils to hit the century mark for a 101-81 lead in the final minute.

Feehan fell one point short of matching a career-high in scoring. His 16-for-16 effort from the foul line marked the most free throws made in an NCAA Division III game without a miss this season, equaling the same 16-for-16 performance by Matt Jones from Trinity (Texas) on Dec. 17 versus Berry.

Feehan also hauled down 12 rebounds, a new career high.

Junior guard Kendall Davis (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S./Illinois Central) also provided a big offensive performance, pouring in 24 points. Sophomore forward Alex Wiegand (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) tied personal best with 17 points. He was 8-for-10 from the floor. As a team, Eureka shot a season-high 58 percent.

Jake Maestranzi paced the visitors with 17 points. Manual had seven rebounds.

Saturday's win was Eureka's eighth in a row on its home floor dating back to February of last season. Since the renovation of Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena, the Red Devils are 15-2 at Dave Darnall Court.

Eureka will take a break from SLIAC competition to play the final non-conference game of the regular season this Tuesday. NAIA Lincoln Christian will visit Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena for a 7:30 p.m. start.