Red Lions Fall to Eureka at Home
 

[January 16, 2015]  LINCOLN - The Lincoln Christian University (LCU) Red Lions hosted the Red Devils from Eureka College on Thursday night in the first home game of the new year. Though the opening minutes looked very even, the Red Devils outpaced LCU throughout the game, forcing turnovers and running the floor. The Red Lions fell 73-84.

Eureka came out with intensity from the start and pressured the Red Lions relentlessly throughout the first half, forcing turnovers and making big steals that led to easy layups. Throughout the first half, LCU was unable to match the Red Devils intensity and went into the locker room down 23-46.

In the second half, LCU made a heroic run to bring the game in closer. The half time deficit closed to just 6 points with 1:16 remaining as the Red Lions pushed and turned up the pressure and started to make lots of shots, improving to a .531 shooting percentage. They matched the pace of the Red Devils and started to force a few turnovers themselves. All their hard work would prove to be just short of what was necessary to get the result, as they fell 73-84.

Josiah Gordon (SO/Springfield, IL) led the Red Lions with 20 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Jimmy Smylie (SO/Springfield, IL) who netted 18 with 4 boards. Anthony Rush (JR/Peoria, IL) led in assists with 5. The Red Lions are back at it Friday night against Concordia Seminary at home.

LCU’s School of Undergraduate Studies is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Founded in Lincoln, Illinois, in 1944, Lincoln Christian University’s three schools – the School of Undergraduate Studies, the Hargrove School of Adult & Graduate Studies and the Seminary – share a mission to nurture and equip Christians with a Biblical worldview to serve and lead in the church and the world. For more information about the Red Lions visit LincolnChristian.edu/athletics.

[Todd Spellman, Lincoln Christian University]