By Tommy McGowan, UWEC Sports Info
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team lost to UW-La Crosse on Friday night, 64-56. It was their home opener for the 2021 season, played at McPhee Center.
The Blugolds would build an initial lead, up 9-3 within the first seven minutes. La Crosse would manage to wrestle it back over the next few minutes.
Eau Claire responded, as an and-one from Alex Voigt (So.-Sun Prairie, WI) put them back in control. They would head into the halftime break leading 28-23. David Ijadimbola (Fr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Park Center) nailed a three to send them into the half.
A three from Cam Kuepers (Sr.-Madison, WI/Lakeside Lutheran) would open the scoring for UWEC in the second half. Kuepers would go 3/3 from downtown on the night and finished as the leading scorer with 14 points.
Both teams would trade the lead multiple times throughout the second half. Heading into the final five minutes of game action, Eau Claire held a slim 53-52 margin.
The Blugold offense went cold down the stretch, forcing them on the wrong side of the win-loss column. It ended a back-and-forth game that had 18 lead changes and 14 ties.
Eau Claire finished the night shooting nearly 46% from the field and 38% from three-point territory.
In addition to Kuepers, Ijadimbola had 12 points and a pair of steals. Carter Brooks (Sr.-Lakeville, MN/North) was the leading rebounder with nine and he also swatted three shots.
The loss drops Eau Claire to 0-2 on the 2021 season. They will get an opportunity to get back on track as they head out on the road against UW-Stout on Friday, February 10th. The last time the two teams met was in January of last year, a game UWEC won 80-54. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day.
