ELSAH, IL – In their final game of the first round of the SLIAC schedule, the Principia Men's Basketball team hosted Eureka College at Hay Field House. Principia came into the game with a 4-2 record in SLIAC play while the Red Devils came in with a record of 3-3. The game was hotly contested throughout as neither team could gain much of an advantage in the first half. Principia led at halftime 31-30 in a defensively dominated half. The second half was the exact opposite, as both teams struggled to contain the other. Principia was able to get out to a small lead behind the second half play of
Jaquan Adams, and rode that momentum all the way to the 82-76 victory.
The opening 20 minutes was a grinder of a half, as both teams struggled to score on each other. A layup by
Shemarri Miles gave the Panthers a four point lead with 10:15 remaining, but that would soon be erased by the Red Devils. A back-and-forth end to the half would leave Principia with the 31-30 lead.
Clark Davidson was outstanding in the first half with 13 points, and really helped keep the Panthers in the game with his dominant inside game.
Eureka would quickly erase the Panthers lead and take a three point lead of their own on a Noah Persich 3-pointer with 15:30 remaining. The Panthers then went on a 9-0 run to make the score 47-41 with 12:53 left. Principia would not relinquish the lead the rest of the game, and 13 second half points by
Jaquan Adams would help seal the game for the Panthers, 82-76.
Good to Know: The Panthers were led by
Clark Davidson, who dominated the paint with 21 points. The Panthers had a balanced attack with four other players in double digits including
Jaquan Adams with 15,
Payton Sellers with 13, and both Nate Brantingham and
Kevin Wingert with 10. The Panthers played error-free basketball and had only 6 turnovers in the game.
Up Next: Principia starts their second round of SLIAC play on Saturday against Fontbonne University. The game is at home at Hay Field House and starts at 3:00 pm. The Panthers lost at Fontbonne 80-65 in their first game of the SLIAC schedule and will be looking to exact some revenge here in Elsah! Please come out and support your Panthers, and if you cannot make it, join us by watching on the live stream.
