The Blue Devils (4-2, 3-0 WIAC) got scoring from all but two players that entered the game, while the Eagles (2-6, 0-2) got scoring from all of their starters, but only two of their bench players.
The two teams traded leads throughout much of the first half. The Eagles' Billy Kegler was the spark for La Crosse, scoring all of his 15 points in the first half. Stout took the lead for good with two minutes left in the first half, and built a 30-25 halftime lead.
The Blue Devils ballooned the lead up to has much as 13 points with five minutes remaining and appeared to have the game in hand. But a game is rarely in hand in the WIAC and La Crosse cut the lead to one point, 61-60 with a minute left.
Adam Chandler and Jacob Nonemacher each made a foul shot to give Stout the cushion they would need. The Eagles missed two 3-pointers in the final seconds.
The Eagles had four player sin double figures, including Kegler. Joe Werner tossed in 12 points and Dan Borchard each had 11 points.
Stout was led by Chandler and Brian Buck with 10 points apiece. Ryan Stangl finished with eight points, Nonemacher with seven and Terry Farmer, Greg Chaisson and Eric Heisler each had six. Nonemacher pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
Stout has not opened the conference season at 3-0 since the 1986-87 season.