WAVERLY, Iowa (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team was back in action on Thursday as they took on the Wartburg Knights on the road. After a late push in the final five minutes, the Blugolds drop their third road game of the year, 82-70.
Spencer Page (Sr. – Rice Lake, WI) started things in the right direction with a three-pointer in the opening seconds to gain a 3-0 for UWEC. The lead wouldn't last long as Wartburg answered back with points in five of their next six possessions. Later in the half, the Knights would extend said lead to as much as 20 after a 15-0 run by the home team put Eau Claire in a hole.
Team turnovers were a kryptonite for the Blugolds early and often as the Knights forced 12 turnovers in the opening 20-minutes and converted 13 points off those forced possession changes. The unearned points added to a 40-26 lead for Wartburg at halftime.
After a 14-point deficit loomed over the visitors into the intermission, they held their own in the following 20-minutes by outscoring their opponents 44-42. They kept things even in the opening minutes and turned in on with under ten minutes to go.
The second quarter shifted momentum slightly as BLC outscored the Blugolds 13-11 to close the deficit to just four at halftime. With their lowest shooting percentage coming right before half, second chance opportunities were not available as UWEC was outrebounded as well. A 7-0 run by the Blugolds featured Brock Voigt (Jr. – Sun Prairie, WI) with five of those seven individually to bring EC within six points. Cade Hall (So. – Mauston, WI), who tallied 13 points with 3 three three-pointers, followed the run up with a basket from beyond the arc to bring the deficit to just five points.
With just over four minutes remaining in the contest, UW-Eau Claire pushed forward at the deficit but could not find the points as they surrendered a 6-0 run following their big break. With fouls to give and Watrburg free throws converted, the Blugolds tallied their third loss on the road, 82-70.
The Blugolds (7-4, WIAC 1-1) will play once more be fore the holiday break as they travel to Lawrence University on Tuesday,
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