By Kyle Naber, UWEC Sports Information
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Blugolds.com) - The No. 21 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team are the 33rd annual Lopata Classic Tournament Champions following a 64-50 upset win over No. 9 and host Washington University (Mo.) Saturday night at WU Field House.
This win for Eau Claire is historic as it continues their hot start. The Blugolds snapped a 35-straight game winning streak for the Bears in the Lopata Classic, their last loss came in 1998. Eau Claire also handed Washington University their first loss of the season. The Bears had been on the longest winning streak in NCAA Division III with a 10-game winning streak, which was just shy of Villanova's 13-game winning streak for best in all of the NCAA.
In the first half, it was the Bears coming out strong on their home floor opening the game on a 10-4 run. However, the battle tested Blugolds would respond by going on an equally as impressive 12-2 run to take the lead. Following suit was the Bears, who would control the rest of the first half and fight off any comeback attempts from Eau Claire to finish the half with a six-point advantage.
In the second half, Head Coach Matt Siverling had his players fired up and they responded by opening the half on a 17-6 run to regain the lead. This back and forth game would continue as the Bears would get right back into it, tying the game up at the 11:41 mark at 37 all with a three-point shot from Washington University's Jake Knupp.
The Blugolds turned to Chris Duff (Jr. – Walker, MN) and George Diekelman (Jr. – Stevens Point, WI/SPASH) from here on out. Duff knocked down a lay-up and three-pointer to regain the lead and the Blugold duo would account for 19 of the last 26 Eau Claire points. Their efforts would not only help their team gain their sixth straight win, but also earn all-tournament honors. Duff recorded another solid night, adding 18 points, giving him a tournament total of 35 points to lead Eau Claire earning him Robert L. Burns MVP honors.
Diekelman led all scorers in the win, recording 19 points and also added seven rebounds. Josh Weix (So. – Eau Claire, WI/North) also scored in double figures with 10 points. Jared Schneidermann (Sr. – Brooklyn Park, MN/Concordia Academy) played solid defense for the Blugolds and recorded a team-high nine rebounds.
Overall, this was a fantastic match-up between two highly competitive teams. Eau Claire was able to find its rhythm from beyond the arc to pull away. The Blugolds earned two more quality wins this weekend, including another win over a ranked opponent.
Up next on the schedule for the undefeated Blugolds will be a return home to take on Viterbo University. The V-Hawks are off to a 6-4 start to their season and will be looking to earn their first win over the Blugolds and their first road victory of the season after already falling to UW-La Crosse and UW-River Falls. The third installment of the series will get started at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6th at Zorn Arena.
Follow all of the action this season on Blugold Game Day.
