LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Blugolds.com) – The No. 11 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team notched another win at the D3hoops.com Classic on Thursday night, defeating the University of California-Santa Cruz, 77-57.
The Blugolds and Banana Slugs had a back and forth battle to start the game and UC-Santa Cruz held a one-point advantage at the 4:33 mark, 24-23. The UW-Eau Claire offense would then go on a 13-6 run highlighted by back-to-back three pointers by Sean Miller (Fr. – Waukesha, WI/Kettle Moraine) and Jack Martinek (Sr. – New Brighton, MN/Irondale) to close out the half with a 37-29 lead. The Blugold defense was led by blocks from Jared Schneidermann (Sr. – Brooklyn Park, MN/Concordia Academy) and Josh Weix (So. – Eau Claire, WI/North).
For the half, Eau Claire shot 36.4 percent (13-28) from the floor and 38.5 percent (5-13) from three while UC-Santa Cruz was 11-32 (34.4 percent) and 2-10 (20 percent), respectively.
A Weix dunk got the Blugolds started in the second half and was followed with a Chris Duff (Jr. – Walker, MN) three and three-point play by Martinek, forcing a Banana Slug timeout with 16:50 left in the second half.
UC-Santa Cruz fought back to cut the Blugold lead to eight, but Miller hit another three to bring the lead back to double digits with just under 14 minutes to go.
The Blugolds would pick up the pace and build a lead that reached as many as 22 in the final 10 minutes as Eau Claire would earn their 10th win of the season with a 77-57 victory.
Martinek led the way with a game-high 17 points while George Diekelman (Jr. – Stevens Point, WI/SPASH) tallied 15. Schneidermann chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds and Weix added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Eau Claire finished the game shooting 50 percent (29-58) from the field and 40.9 percent (9-22) from three while holding the Banana Slugs to 31 percent (18-58) from the field and 17.4 percent (4-23) from behind the arc.
The Blugolds (10-1) will open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on January 4th at UW-River Falls.
Follow all the action this season on Blugold Game Day.
