EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Playing in its final game at home for the 2012-13 season, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team fell short to UW-Platteville 76-65 on Ken Anderson Court in Zorn Arena tonight.
Platteville scored the first four points of the game and outscored the Blugolds 14-7 over nearly the first nine minutes. Senior Zac Womeldorf (Northfield, Minn.) hit the Blugolds' opening basket at 18:35.
The Blugolds got down by double digits midway through the opening half and the closest they got the rest of the way was seven points.
At halftime, the Pioneers led 39-26 and reached their largest lead of the night at 8:09 in the second at 20 points (64-44). Over a seven minute stretch late in the second, the Blugolds went on an 18-7 run to get back within nine points (71-62), ending with just over a minute to play, but the Pioneers ended the game with a 5-3 run to win by 11.
Nick Craggs (Sr.-Kimberly, Wis.) led the Blugolds as he finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Dustin Kalien (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chi-Hi) scored 12 points while Eric Effertz (So.-Ladysmith, Wis.) finished with 11.
The Blugolds' five seniors started the game as it was Senior Night. Jordan Petersen (Sr.-Strum, Wis./Eleva-Strum) scored seven points while Womeldorf finished with four. Andy Kleist (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) had two points and a rebound.
Eau Claire drops to 10-14 overall and 4-11 in WIAC play while Platteville ends the regular season with a 17-8 overall and 10-6 WIAC record.
The Blugolds will play their final game of the season Saturday at UW-Stevens Point, beginning at 3 p.m. With the loss tonight, the Blugolds were eliminated from the WIAC Tournament, which gets underway next week and includes the top six teams in the conference.
-KM-
