News Release

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The UW-Eau Claire men’s basketball team shot only 11.4 percent from the field in losing to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent UW-River Falls 42-41 here tonight at Zorn Arena.
The Blugolds shot a season-low 22.6 percent from the field and scored a season-low 41 points. Eau Claire falls to 4-4 in the WIAC and 10-6 overall with the loss.
A Dan Archambault three-pointer put the Blugolds up 37-27 with 14:08 left in regulation. The Eau Claire offense then went cold going scoreless for nearly 12 minutes. The Falcons went on a 13-0 run over the scoreless stretch going up 40-37 with 4:34 left.
Buck Smith ended the drought with two free throws to close the deficit to 40-39. Smith put the Blugolds back on top moments later putting back an Eau Claire miss to give the Blugolds a 41-40 lead.
River Falls retook the lead seconds later on a Dan Torrez lay-up to go up 42-41 with 48 seconds remaining. The Blugolds got four shots at the basket in the final 10 seconds but couldn’t convert as Casey Drake’s jumper was blocked as time expired.
Eau Claire controlled most of the first half jumping out to an early 15-4 lead following a Chad Honl three-pointer. The Falcons countered going on a 14-4 run to close to within 19-18 with 4:57 left in the opening half. The Blugolds would close the half on an 11-3 run taking a 30-21 into the locker room.
Archambault led Eau Claire with 11 points with nine coming from behind the three point line with Smith adding 10. Smith and Kale Proksch lead the Blugolds to a 50-36 rebounding advantage. Smith pulled down a career-high 15 boards while Proksch had 10. It was the first time since Feb. 8, 2003 that Eau Claire had two players with double-digit rebounds.