By Tommy McGowan, UWEC Sports Information
WHITEWATER, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team took down UW-Whitewater, 49-47 on Saturday night.
While Whitewater began the game on an 11-2 run, the Blugolds cut the lead to 16-14 by the midway point of the first half. A three from the Warhawks in the final minute of the first gave them a 29-23 advantage at the halftime break.
Coming off the bench, Luke Reader (Fr.-Bangor, WI) led all Blugolds in scoring during the first, with seven points. Spencer Page (So.-Rice Lake, WI) added five points himself, while also recording five rebounds.
Blake Wacholz (Sr.-Lakeville, MN/South) scored the first points of the second for Eau Claire, and two quick threes from Page got them their first lead of the game.
Whitewater would wrestle the lead back until there were two minutes remaining, when Cole Rabedeaux (Sr.-Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap) hit a pair of free throws. With the score tied at 47 with under a minute left, Cam Kuepers (Jr.-Madison, WI/Lakeside Lutheran) nailed a clutch jumper that would provide to be the decisive basket.
Eau Claire held the Warhawks to 26% shooting in the second half, and built a slight rebounding advantage, 18-17.
Page finished the game as the leading scorer for the Blugolds, tallying 15 points on 5-10 shooting. Reader and Kuepers both added ten points, while Rabedeaux led all players with 11 rebounds.
The victory is UWEC's fifth straight, moving their record to 17-6 overall and 8-4 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. They will play their final home game of the regular season on Wednesday, February 19th against UW-Platteville. The game will tip at 7 PM, with seniors honored before the game. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app from your mobile device.
