DUBUQUE, Iowa (Blugolds.com) – Down by two with six minutes to play, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team used a 19-4 run to close the game and secure a 71-58 victory over Loras College (Iowa) tonight.

In a game that featured five lead changes and six tied scores, the Blugolds controlled the game most of the night, never letting Loras get too big of a lead.

Loras' largest lead of the game actually came when the Duhawks hit a game-opening three-pointer, and late in the game they also led by three once. The teams then went back and forth until the Blugolds used a 13-2 run to build a 10-point lead (19-9) with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

After that, the Duhawks had a 12-4 run to get to within two (23-21) but Eau Claire didn't let its lead slip away and took a four-point lead (31-27) into halftime.

In the second half, the game stayed close but the Blugolds never trailed over the first 12 minutes, though the score was tied three times during that stretch.

Loras was able to get a little momentum and found its way to a two-point lead (54-52) with six minutes left. But Eau Claire used a 10-0 run to get up by eight over the next three minutes and then outscored Loras 9-2 over the final two minutes to win by 13 (71-58).

Jordan Petersen (Sr.-Strum, Wis./Eleva-Strum) led three Blugolds in double-figures with 14 points. Eight of his points came in the second half, including five in the last six minutes.

Lewis Mau (So.-Colfax, Wis.) led the team with six rebounds while Eric Effertz (So.-Ladysmith, Wis.) had a game-high four assists.

Eau Claire outshot Loras 44.4 percent (28-for-63) to 37.5 percent (24-for-64) and outrebounded the Duhawks 42-38.

The Blugolds are now 3-2 on the season while Loras falls to 2-3.

Wednesday the Blugolds will be home for the first time this season when they host the College of St. Scholastica. Action is set to get underway at 7 p.m. in Zorn Arena.

-KM-