News Release

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — EAU CLAIRE – The UW-Eau Claire men’s basketball team shot just 3-of-19 from three-point range and saw a one-point halftime lead dissolve into a 75-59 loss to UW-Whitewater here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena.

The Blugolds fall to 12-9 on the season and 5-7 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play while the Warhawks improve to 14-6 on the year and 6-6 in the WIAC.

After a Casey Drake three-pointer put the Blugolds up 3-0 to start the game the Warhawks responded with a 13-2 run. Eau Claire slowly cut into the lead and used a 12-4 run to tie the game at 17, capitalized by three straight free-throws from Dan Archambault. The two teams exchanged the lead several times before halftime and neither team was able to take more than a four-point advantage. A lay-up by Will Jefferson with 19 seconds left in the half gave the Blugolds a 32-31 lead heading into the break.

The second half was a different story. With the score tied at 38, the Warhawks used a 6-0 run to build a small cushion. The Blugolds were able to keep the lead around six until another 6-0 run by Whitewater put Eau Claire in an 11-point hole.

A free-throw by Jesse Breidenbach cut the lead to nine with 3:54 remaining but that was as close as the Blugolds would get. The Warhawks hit seven straight free-throws down the stretch to seal the 75-59 victory, avenging an earlier loss to the Blugolds.

After shooting 54.5 percent in the first half, Eau Claire hit just 25 percent in the second half, including just 1-of-13 from three-point range. The Warhawks dominated the free-throw line, hitting 32-of-38 from the charity stripe while the Blugolds were 16-of-22 from the line.

Jefferson led Eau Claire with 17 points and seven rebounds while Drake added 15 points and Archambault scored 13. Breidenbach tied for the team lead with seven rebounds.

Angelo Griffin posted a game-high 23 points for the Warhawks while also grabbing a game-best 10 rebounds. Jeremy Manchester scored 18 points in the Whitewater win while Mike Toellner added 13.

The Blugolds will look to get back in the win column on Saturday but the task will not be easy as they head to Stevens Point to battle the second-ranked Pointers. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.