Sports/Rec: The NEIU Golden Eagles WIN!

WIN!! WIN!! That's what the NEIU-Golden Eagles have done against Columbia College, a school that has had the program for many years. The NEIU-Golden Eagles has played together for just six games and have been able to keep up with teams such as Kennedy King College, Robert Morris College, St. Xavier University, and Olive Harvey College. In a recent tournament Olive Harvey College defeated three other college teams by 30+ points, yet the NEIU Golden Eagles lost to them by only three points in that tournament.

The game at home in the P.E Complex was a battle ground ready for war in a clash resembling David vs. Goliath. Columbia College came in ready as ever, skilled from playing many years together, physically fit, experienced on the road and ready to show their game face. The first encounter against the NEIU-Golden Eagles, a team of few fans, no university support and a lot of character and determination, awakened the basketball ghosts of the past to defeat Columbia College. In the second and final game of the 2008 semester before the spring term starts, Columbia College wanted to draw blood from the new born Eagles, however little did they know that the NEIU-Golden Eagles had the NEIU-Wall of Fame for inspiration and a hard training camp during the fall to inspire the team to realize that this game was a must win to end the fall 2008 term on a high flying tone.

At 12 p.m. on a snowy Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 the game started and the battle began. With six minutes in the game the score was 11-11, at three minutes and eight seconds, it was 28-17 for the Eagles. The Eagles committed three fouls and Columbia committed 10 fouls against the NEIU-Golden Eagles, putting them in foul trouble early in the game which gave the game to the unpredictable Eagles. Once the NEIU-Golden Eagles had their claws on the score and were in control of the game they just soared higher and higher into their favorite environment, the winning environment. With 30 seconds left in the game the NEIU-Golden Eagles won by an amazing score of 56-39 (final) to defeat Columbia College two times in a row.

WHERE WERE YOU?!!!!!! 30 proud NEIU-students and fans showed up to support the team, your university team. What you missed was a show by the Color Guard, music by DJ Blakish, seeing Columbia College's basketball team, seeing and meeting the NEIU-Golden Eagles basketball team and head coach Cyril Nichols, the P.E. Complex Wall of Fame and much more. It's never ok to jump on the band-wagon because it can tip over if too full, but if you show support by giving and being there at home for home games the wagon can be built just right so it keeps on going and never tips over or breaks down. Sportsmanship helps the university and student life here at Northeastern Illinois University. GO!! Eagles GO!!

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