Feehan Lifts Eureka to Season-Opening Win at Dominican, 95-81
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- Eureka College sophomore guard Shea Feehan (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame H.S.) scored 34 points, one of four Red Devils to reach double figures, driving the visitors to a 95-81 victory at Dominican (Ill.) in Thursday's regular-season opener in River Forest, Ill.
The 95 points scored are the most by the Red Devils in a season-opening contest since EC pinned a 102-80 defeat on Illinois Tech at the Reagan Center on Nov. 15, 1976.
Additionally, Thursday's win was Eureka's first when opening the season on the road since beating Lincoln Christian 89-65 on Nov. 15, 2012. It was also the Red Devils' first season-opening road win over an NCAA member school since topping Rockford 91-90 on Nov. 18, 2009.
Eureka started fast and led by seven (16-9) at the 13:20 mark of the first period before the hosts recovered to claim their only lead of the game, 17-16, on Josh Mayberry's 3-pointer with 11:51 left before halftime. EC responded with a pair of foul shots from junior guard Kendall Davis (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S./Illinois Central) on the ensuing trip and wouldn't trail again.
An interior bucket from junior guard Brady Sanders (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest H.S./Illinois Wesleyan) in the final minute of the half secured Eureka's largest lead of the first 20 minutes, 50-39. DU eventually trailed 50-42 at intermission.
Dominican used a quick burst in the first three minutes after halftime to whittle Eureka's cushion to two (53-51), but the visitors punched back with a decisive 16-0 flurry. Davis scored 11 points during the run, including a 3-pointer for a 69-51 lead with 12:56remaining. Another triple from Davis gave the Red Devils their biggest lead, 72-53, with 12:21 left.
Eureka's advantage wouldn't be challenged for the rest of the night. DU pushed within 10 as late as the 4:22 mark, but a layup from Davis with 4:03 to play put the contest out of reach.
Feehan was 12-for-22 from the floor and knocked down six 3-pointers en route to his game-high 34 points. He also led all players with 10 rebounds. Davis scored 20 points in his Eureka debut on 8-for-16 shooting and hauled down six rebounds. Sophomore guard Hank Thomas (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods H.S.) poured in 18 points and sophomore forward Alex Wiegand (Washington, Ill./Washington H.S.) chipped in with 14 points and nine rebounds.
The Red Devils finished the contest 36-for-73 from the field and a blistering 12-for-24 from 3-point range. The visitors also held a 48-37 advantage in rebounds.
Mayberry paced the Stars with 25 points and nine rebounds. DU is 0-2 to begin the season after falling at Illinois Wesleyan on Tuesday.
Including last season's four-game win streak to close the campaign, the Red Devils have now won five consecutive contests for the first time since a six-game stretch of victories in February 2013.
Eureka now owns a 13-11 advantage in the series with the Stars since 1974. Coupled with a 70-67 win over DU on Dec. 19, 2009, the Red Devils have won consecutive contests in the series for the first time since winning three straight as Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference rivals during the 2003-04 campaign.
The Red Devils will continue early-season competition Saturday in their home opener against Rockford at 4 p.m. inside Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena. A victory over the Regents would give EC its first 2-0 start since the 2012-13 season.