EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team picked up a 67-58 victory over UW-La Crosse at Zorn Arena tonight.
The Blugolds found themselves down three minutes into the game, but after a Jordan Petersen (Jr.-Strum, Wis./Eleva-Strum) three-pointer, the Blugolds took their first lead of the night and never gave it up the rest of the way.
Eau Claire steadily built a lead over the first 10 minutes and got up by as much as 15 points. But La Crosse then went on a 19-5 scoring run to get within a point at the start of the second half.
That was as close as La Crosse would get, however, as the Blugolds again pushed their lead back to double-digits midway through the second half. Eau Claire got up by as many as 13 points in the second half and hung on for the nine-point win.
Petersen led the game with 20 points while finishing with a game-high five assists. Nick Bartlett (Jr.-Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View) and Nick Craggs (Jr.-Kimberly, Wis.) added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Craggs also led the game with eight rebounds.
The Blugolds edged the Eagles in rebounding 38-35 and outshot them 47.1 percent (24-for-51) to 35.5 percent (22-for-62) from the field.
Eau Claire and La Crosse now both have the same record. They are both 12-6 overall and 4-5 in the WIAC.
The Blugolds will be home again Wednesday, hosting UW-Superior. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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