EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – After winning its first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) game Wednesday, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team kept the momentum alive by defeating UW-River Falls 68-58 on Ken Anderson Court in Zorn Arena today.
The Blugolds never trailed the entire game after opening with a 10-0 lead to start. River Falls went scoreless over the first three and a half minutes.
After the Blugolds led 10-0, River Falls used a 12-4 run to cut the Blugolds' lead to two (14-12). For almost a six minute stretch, the Blugolds didn't score any points as River Falls scored seven. Over the final eight minutes of the half, the Blugolds outscored the Falcons 18-13 to take a seven-point lead into halftime (32-25).
In the second half, the Blugolds scored the first three points to build a 10-point advantage, but River Falls then used a 13-4 run to get to within one (39-38).
Lewis Mau (So.-Colfax, Wis.) gave the Blugolds the spark they needed on the next possession after stealing the ball and dunking it. Over the final 13 minutes of the game, the Blugolds outscored the Falcons 29-20 as they won by 10.
Four Blugolds finished scoring in double figures with Jordan Petersen (Sr.-Strum, Wis./Eleva-Strum) leading the game with 19 points. Nick Craggs (Sr.-Kimberly, Wis.) led the Blugolds with six rebounds.
Eau Claire outshot the Falcons 53.2 percent (25-for-47) to 42.9 percent (21-for-49). The Blugolds also held a 29-26 rebounding edge.
The Blugolds are now 8-9 overall and 2-6 in the WIAC while River Falls drops to 5-11 on the season and 0-7 in the conference.
Eau Claire will have Wednesday off but will play next Saturday at UW-La Crosse. The game will get underway at 3 p.m.
-KM-
