WHITEWATER, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - Despite being ahead almost seven minutes into the game against UW-Whitewater, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team got behind and could not recover in a 85-68 loss at Kachel Gymnasium today.

Eau Claire outscored the Warhawks 11-10 to start the game and held a one-point lead until 13:11 in the first. But Whitewater quickly took a commanding lead with a 21-5 run over the next seven minutes and the Blugolds couldn't get back in the game after that.

To close the first half, Whitewater continued to increase its lead and went into half time with a 28-point advantage (52-24).

In the second half, the Blugolds opened with a 13-5 run to cut the lead to 20 points. But the Warhawks wouldn't give in and kept nearly a 20-point lead the rest of the way. The closest the Blugolds could get in the second half was 15 points with just over a minute to play.

The teams were almost even in shooting but Eau Claire led 52.7 percent (29-for-55) to 50.9 percent (29-for-57). Whitewater just edged the Blugolds in rebounding 29-27. But Whitewater hit 11 three-pointers compared to two for Eau Claire and was 16-for-18 from the free throw line while the Blugolds went 8-for-12.

Amadou Fofana (Sr.-Appleton, Wis./West) led Eau Claire with 18 points while James Pfitzinger (Jr.-West St. Paul, Minn./Academy Of Holy Angels/St. Norbert) added 17 and Marcus Ruh (So.-Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) had 12. Pfitzinger had a team-high eight rebounds.

Whitewater improves to 15-8 overall and 8-6 in the conference while Eau Claire drops to 9-14 on the season and 3-11 in WIAC play.

The Blugolds will be on the road again Wednesday at UW-Superior. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.