EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team held off a second-half push to defeat Milwaukee School of Engineering 70-61 on Saturday at Zorn Arena. The Blugolds used a 6-0 run in the late stages of the game to survive a push from the Raiders and win a third consecutive game.
UW-Eau Claire built a 20-point lead in the first half, riding a 50% shooting percentage and a strong defense to a commanding advantage. Brock Voigt (Sr. - Sun Prairie, Wis.) put up 12 points and four rebounds before halftime, and David Ijadimbola (Jr. - Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center) and Michael Casper (Jr. - Merrill, Wis.) added eight points apiece. It helped the Blugolds establish a 33-13 lead with four minutes remaining. However, the Raiders closed the half on a run to chip the advantage down to 14 by the break.
MSOE continued to chisel away in the second half. The Raiders whittled the score to 54-52 with 6:30 left on the clock, the closest the game had been since the early stages of the first half. From there, Brock Voigt hit a free throw, Nolan Blair (Jr. - Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) hit a jumper and Casper knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Blugolds ahead by eight. UW-Eau Claire led by six or more the rest of the way.
Brock Voigt tallied a double-double by finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and he added five blocks too. Ijadimbola scored 14 points, and Casper added 12. Alex Voigt (Sr. - Sun Prairie, Wis.) had eight points, and Spencer Page (Sr. - Rice Lake, Wis.) had 10 rebounds.) Blair finished with eight points and six rebounds.
The Blugolds held the Raiders to 39% shooting from the field. They won the rebounding battle 45-33, highlighted by 12 offensive rebounds which led to 17 second-chance points. UW-Eau Claire got 18 points from its bench.
A big week awaits the Blugolds (4-2) next week. They open WIAC play with two road games, beginning with a visit to UW-River Falls on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. They also travel to face UW-La Crosse on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m.
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