EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball had a lead just twice today, less than four minutes into the game, but UW-Stout had little trouble getting past the Blugolds 89-67 on Ken Anderson Court in Zorn Arena.
With Eau Claire up 6-5, Stout outscored the Blugolds 26-9 over an eight-minute stretch in the first half to get up by 16 and the Blugolds could never catch up the rest of the way.
Stout led by as many as 24 points in the first half, taking a 21-point lead (47-26) into halftime.
The Blue Devils came out strong in the second half and outscored the Blugolds 20-9 over the first six minutes to get up by 32 points, their largest lead of the game.
The closest the Blugolds would get after that was 20 points with less than a minute to play.
With three Blugolds reaching double digits in scoring, Adam Hjelter (So.-Hutchinson, Minn.) led the way with 19 points. Lewis Mau (Jr.-Colfax, Wis.) led the game in rebounding with nine.
Stout finished shooting 64 percent (32-for-50) from the field while the Blugolds went 23-for-49 (46.9 percent. Stout's Jimmy Whitehead was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
The Blugolds drop to 8-10 on the season and 1-8 in the WIAC while UW-Stout improves to 10-8 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
Wednesday, the Blugolds will be at No. 1-ranked UW-Stevens Point for a game beginning at 7 p.m.
-KM-