EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team got out to a strong start, but couldn't hold off a UW-Platteville rally in an 87-80 defeat to the Pioneers on Wednesday at Zorn Arena. In a game that went back and forth, the Pioneers took the lead for good on a 3-pointer with 4:18 remaining. The defeat snapped a four-game win streak for the Blugolds.
The Blugolds built an early lead for the third straight game. They scored the contest's first seven points with help from five by Brock Voigt (Sr. – Sun Prairie, Wis.). Things slowed down from there though, with neither team reaching double figures on the scoreboard until nearly eight minutes had gone by on the clock. UW-Eau Claire's defense held the Pioneers in single digits until the 10:50 mark of the first half.
The Blugolds led the first 10-plus minutes before each side traded momentum swings. A 7-0 run started by a 3-pointer from Spencer Page (Sr. – Rice Lake, Wis.) and capped by a dunk from Voigt put UW-Eau Claire ahead by six in the late stages of the first half. The Blugolds brought a 37-31 advantage into halftime.
UW-Eau Claire stayed in front for the first 13 minutes of the second half before the Pioneers pulled even. A free throw with 6:52 left put UW-Platteville ahead 63-62, its first lead since the first half. The game was tied at 66 before the Pioneers hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:18 left. UW-Platteville scored 21 of the game's final 35 points.
It was a one-possession game until the Pioneers embarked on a quick 8-0 run to build a 79-69 lead with 1:35 remaining. Page made a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to cut the deficit to five, but that was as close as the Blugolds would get.
Voigt led the Blugolds with 18 points. Page had 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and is now 19 points shy of hitting 1,000 for his career. Michael Casper (Jr. – Merrill, Wis.) scored 15 points, and David Ijadimbola (Jr. – Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center) added 10 points. Carter Hanke (Sr. – Marathon, Wis.) had seven points off the bench.
UW-Eau Claire shot 46% from the field, but couldn't quite keep up with the Pioneers' 52% clip. UW-Platteville shot 47% from beyond the arc. The Blugolds were previously unbeaten at Zorn Arena this season.
The Blugolds (11-5, 3-2) will look to bounce back when they visit UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, Jan. 14. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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