By Tommy McGowan, UWEC Sports Info
LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team dropped their 2021 season opener to UW-La Crosse on Wednesday night, 62-43.
Eau Claire's first bucket of the season came off a fast-break layup from Spencer Page (Jr.-Rice Lake, WI). Page would go on to score the first seven points of the game for the Blugolds before a pair of free throws from David Ijadimbola (Fr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Park Center).
With the score 15-13, Eau Claire was on the wrong side of a 17-4 run to end the first half. Page finished the half as the top scorer for the Blugolds, with 11 points off 4-8 shooting.
The Blugolds slimmed the lead down to ten within the first several minutes of the second half off a layup from Nathan Banasik (Jr.-Prairie Du Chen, WI). The lead would hover there until La Crosse went on another run, beginning with nine minutes to play in the game.
Despite shooting better in the second half than the first, the Blugolds were unable to tighten the game further, with the final score reading 62-43.
Page would lead with 13 points on the night, while also adding four rebounds. Other top performers include Carter Brooks (Sr.-Lakeville, MN/North) and Banasik, who both had seven points. Brock Voigt (So.-Sun Prairie, WI) led all players with nine total rebounds.
Eau Claire will get an opportunity to avenge the defeat this Friday, February 5th. It will be their 2021 home opener at McPhee Center, with the action beginning at 7 PM. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day.
