EAU CLAIRE – The UW-Eau Claire men’s basketball team held Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival UW-Superior scoreless for the final 4:32 of the second half en route to a 58-49 victory over the Yellowjackets here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena.
The win moves the Blugolds ahead of Superior in the WIAC standings as Eau Claire improves to 4-6 in the conference while the Yellowjackets fall to 3-7. The Blugolds’ overall record jumps to 10-9 as Superior falls to 8-10 for the season.
The game started off extremely close and low scoring as neither team took a lead larger than four until there was only 2:12 remaining in the first half. With the Blugolds trailing 18-15 with 4:26 left in the half, Eau Claire went on a 10-0 run to take a seven point lead with 1:16 left to play. The Yellowjackets battled back, closing the half on a 7-2 run to make the score 27-25 in favor of Eau Claire at the break.
Dan Archambault led all scorers at the end of the first half with nine points while Casey Drake added eight points. Cody Kastern and Bob Riley each totaled eight points at the break for the Yellowjackets.
Kastern scored his 10th point of the night to open the second half and knot the score at 27. The Blugolds responded to regain the lead and the game continued back-and-forth, with four ties coming in the first 6:15 of the second half. With Eau Claire on top 37-33 Kastern took over the offense for the Yellowjackets, powering a 9-2 Superior run to give the Yellowjackets a 42-39 advantage. Kastern scored all nine points during the run. Drake and Archambault fired back for the Blugolds as Drake connected on a three-point shot to tie the game and Archambault hit a jumper on the next possession to give the Blugolds a 44-42 lead. After the jumper by Archambault, Eau Claire never lost the lead.
Drake extended the Blugold lead to six points with a two consecutive baskets but Laron Reed scored five unanswered points for Superior to cut the lead to just one point. Archambault answered back with a two-point shot but again the Yellowjackets fired back as Marc Rothschadl scored to again cut the lead to one at 50-49. After the bucket by Rothschadl, the Yellowjackets were hit with a technical foul and would go the final 4:32 of the game without a point while Eau Claire scored eight unanswered to close out the game at 58-49.
Archambault led the way with a game-best 23 points while connecting on all seven free-throw attempts. Drake added 19 points and a team-high six rebounds while Buck Smith also grabbed six rebounds.
Kastern led Superior with 21 points and 12 rebounds while Reed and Rothschadl each scored 10. Bob Riley added eight points in the loss. No other member of the Yellowjackets scored.
Eau Claire converted on all nine free-throw attempts in the game while forcing 18 Superior turnovers. The Blugolds committed just seven personal fouls as opposed to the first time the two teams met, when Eau Claire was hit with 27 fouls leading to 36 free-throws for the Yellowjackets.
The Blugolds resume action this Saturday when they travel to Whitewater to battle the WIAC leading and 12th-ranked Warhawks for a 5:00 p.m. game.
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Prepared by Dustin Nielsen