By Alex Richert, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team was defeated by the No. 9 UW-Stevens Point Pointers at Zorn Arena Wednesday night by a score of 68-53. Eau Claire falls to 2-2 in the WIAC while Stevens Point advances to 3-1.
The first half was highly contested between the Blugolds and the Pointers with eleven lead changes and saw the score tied five times. Eau Claire shot 48.1 percent from the field while holding Point to 39.3 percent, which allowed the Blugolds to gain a one-point lead closing out the first half, 30-29.
The Blugolds could not keep the hot-shooting going in the second half while Stevens Point came out of the locker room with an 11-0 run early in that was just too much for Eau Claire to negate as the 9th-ranked Pointers came away with a 68-53 win.
Eau Claire finished the game with a total of five team steals and shot a respectable 44 percent from the floor. Stevens Point outlasted Eau Claire during the second half due to shooting 56 percent from the floor while also converting 44 percent from behind the arc in the second half. Canon O'Heron played a large role in the Pointers victory with a double-double, recording a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds.
The Blugold scoring leaders included Ben Widdes (Sr. – Rice Lake, WI) with 15 and Cole Rabedeaux (Jr. – Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap) with 16. Rabedeaux and Widdes also added two steals apiece in the contest while Rabedeaux had a team-high six rebounds.
The Blugolds (9-6, 2-2 WIAC) will travel to Platteville on Wednesday January 16 at 7 p.m. to match up against UW-Platteville Pioneers. For everything Blugold athletics head to Blugold Game Day or download the 'UWEC Blugolds' app on your mobile device.
