EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Facing second-ranked UW-Whitewater in the season finale, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball never led as the Blugolds fell 82-57 on Ken Anderson Court in Zorn Arena tonight.
Whitewater steadily built its lead throughout the opening half. Six minutes into the contest, Eau Claire was within one point (11-10) but over the next five minutes, the Warhawks outscored the Blugolds 16-6 to get up by 11. The closest the Blugolds got after that was nine points.
Over the final six minutes of the first half, the Warhawks outscored the Blugolds 16-4 to get up by 21 points at halftime (45-24).
In the second half, the Blugolds got as close as 16 points but Whitewater again was able to increase its lead throughout the half. The Warhawks reached their largest lead of the night of 31 points (82-51) with less than three minutes to play.
Adam Hjelter (So.-Hutchinson, Minn.) led the Blugolds in scoring with 13 points while five Blugolds led the team in rebounding with three boards each.
Eau Claire shot 40 percent (22-for-55) from the field while Whitewater went 33-for-61 (54.1 percent). The Warhawks outrebound the Blugolds 40-27.
The Blugolds finish the season with a 10-15 overall record and 3-13 conference mark while Whitewater improves to 22-3 on the season and 13-3 in the WIAC.
-KM-