LAS VEGAS, Nev. (blugolds.com) – The No. 11 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team picked up their ninth win of the season on Wednesday night in Las Vegas for the D3hoops.com Classic, defeating Gustavus Adolphus College, 78-57.
UW-Eau Claire took an early lead to start the game but Gustavus would stay within a few points until the Blugolds went on a 17-6 run to close out the second half and take a 33-21 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Blugolds shot 48 percent (12-25) from the field while holding Gustavus to 32.3 percent (10-31). Eau Claire only shot four from behind the arc, connecting on two, while the Gusties were 1-6 (16.7 percent). Josh Weix (So. – Eau Claire, WI/North) led the way with 15 first-half points.
Jared Schneidermann (Sr. – Brooklyn Park, MN/Concordia Academy) got the Blugolds rolling in the second half with a three pointer and the Blugolds never looked back. Eau Claire would shoot an impressive 85 percent (17-20) from the field and 60 percent (3-5) from three in the second half to cruise to a 78-57 win.
The Blugolds also hit 15-19 (78.9 percent) from the free throw line while the defense held Gustavus to 36.5 (23-63) from the field and 33.3 percent (5-15) from behind the arc.
Weix led all scorers with 25 points while three other Blugolds also scored in double figures, George Diekelman (Jr. – Stevens Point, WI/SPASH) (16), Jack Martinek (Sr. – New Brighton, MN/Irondale) (15) and Schneidermann (10). Weix also tied Gustavus' Jason Faul for a game-high seven rebounds.
The Blugolds (9-1) will face University of California-Santa Cruz on Thursday at 10 p.m.
Follow all the action this season on Blugold Game Day.
