Photo courtesy of Summer Inselmann.
Photo courtesy of Summer Inselmann.

Eureka Overwhelms Knox, Breaks Into Win Column, 116-69

EUREKA – Eureka shot 58 percent from the floor, hit 17 3-pointers and dominated the battle on the glass in a 116-69 non-conference romp over Knox, Thursday night at Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center.  

Dakota Bennington (Peoria, Ill./Peoria Christian H.S./Olivet Nazarene) scored a game-high 24 points. Austin Juergens (Pekin, Ill./Pekin H.S.) contributed his first career double-double with 14 points and a career-best 11 boards. Hank Thomas (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods H.S.) poured in 17 points and Koby White (Brimfield, Ill./Brimfield H.S.) hit four 3-pointers for 12 points off the bench.

Eighteen Red Devils saw the floor, 14 of which scored at least one point. The hosts went 17-for-34 from beyond the arc and outrebounded Knox 51-29. The Red Devils' 116 points scored and 47-point margin of victory were the largest in 14 meetings with Knox during Eureka's NCAA Division III era.

Eureka scored seven points in a row to open the contest and forced a pair of Knox timeouts as the Red Devils ultimately roared to a 19-2 advantage at the 14:54 mark of the first half. EC led 24-2 before the visitors made their second field goal of the night. The hosts led by as many as 39 points in the first half on White's triple at the 3:13 mark. Eureka led 65-29 at halftime.

No Red Devil played more than seven minutes after halftime and 13 players logged at least five minutes of action. The advantage reached 50 on a jump shot from Kyle Robison (South Wilmington, Ill./Gardner-South Wilmington H.S.) with 2:25 left.

Eureka will travel to Berea, Ky. this Saturday for a 6:30 p.m. non-conference start at Berea.