SIUC senior forward Rashad Tucker found himself pacing the sidelines instead of leading a fast break Friday night.

Tucker coached the White team in the third annual Recreation Center All-Star Game at Pulliam Gym, which was sponsored by the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. After his team was defeated handily by the Red All-Stars 78-57, Tucker realized coaching was not for him.

Creating enough playing time for players and working the officials were some of the things Tucker were not accustomed to. Of the 18 players, 14 were SIUC students and the others were locals who make it a habit of playing in the Recreation Center.

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I see coaching as a little bit harder than playing, Tucker said. You’ve got players that want to play the whole game. It was fun, but coaching is a lot different than I thought it would be.

Part of Tucker’s problem was coming up with a defensive scheme to stop Red team guard Darrell Ramsey. Ramsey scored a game-high 41 points, hitting nine three-point field goals. No matter who was guarding him throughout the game, the end result was same.

Ramsey, a junior in business from LaGrange, said he is tough to stop when he enters the zone. He played two years of collegiate ball at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and St. Xavier College in Chicago before coming to SIUC.

I was on, and (the ball) was going in, Ramsey said. My first two threes went in, and after that I just felt it.

The Red team clearly outmatched its counterparts. The outcome was never in doubt as the White team found itself playing catch-up most of the night.

But event coordinator Will Woodson said the blowout did not cause the fans to go home disappointed.

It’s basically for the fans to see, said Woodson, a senior in psychology from Madison. We just tried to take some of the best talent in the Rec and put them all together on two teams. This was probably the biggest turnout we’ve ever had.

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In addition to game, the event featured a three-point shootout and slam dunk contest. After the game, the fans got the opportunity to see Saluki guard Monte Jenkins and the University of Texas-San Antonio forward Willie Robinson battle for the slam dunk championship.

Robinson won the title after Jenkins missed his last dunk attempt. Robinson finished off the evening with a one-handed 360 jam to get the crowd on its feet.

I have lost two years in a row, so I knew I had to come back and try it again, Robinson said. I didn’t do anything really special, but it was enough to win.

SIUC student Kevin Woods score of six in the final round was good enough to win the three-point contest during halftime. The $50 prize gave Woods, a senior in psychology from Cairo, a little extra incentive over the rest of the participants.

I needed the money, Woods said. I’ve got bills to pay, and this couldn’t come at a better time.