OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team played in their first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship game (presented by Culver's) since 2001 on Saturday night, but fell to UW-Oshkosh, 78-72.
The Blugolds came out fast, taking an early 8-2 lead but the Titans responded with a 10-0 run. After a back-and-forth battle, Oshkosh again would go on a run, taking their biggest lead of the game at the 6:58 mark, 25-14. Eau Claire fought back in the remaining minutes and trailed by three at the half, 34-31.
The Titans maintained a narrow lead to start the second half, but a Blake Wacholz (Sr.-Lakeville, MN/South) layup tied the score at 42 with just under 16 minutes to go. It was followed with a three by Spencer Page (So.-Rice Lake, WI) and a jumper by Carter Brooks (Jr.-Lakeville, MN/North) that would give Eau Claire a 47-42 advantage. The Blugold lead was short-lived, however, as Oshkosh regained the lead with 12 minutes to go and never trailed again.
Page led the Blugolds with 17 points after shooting 50 percent from the field (6-12) and from beyond the arc (3-6) while Cam Kuepers tallied 16 points (8-14). Cole Rabedeaux (Sr.-Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap) followed with 15 points and also recorded five rebounds, three assists and two steals to round out the stat sheet. Wacholz also scored in double figures with 11.
As a team the Blugolds shot 46.7 percent from the field (28-60) and 37.5 percent (6-16) from three. Eau Claire also connected on 10 of 11 from the free throw line.
The Blugolds (19-9) will now wait to see if they will earn an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament. The selection show will take place on Monday, March 2 at 11:30 a.m.
