News Release

RIVER FALLS, Wis. — RIVER FALLS - There would be no 40-point win this time around for UW-Stout as the Blue Devils had to hold off UW-River Falls the entire evening, but finally picked up a 79-71 win at the Falcons' nest, Wednesday, Jan. 26.

Stout thrashed the Falcons, 83-43, in December in Menomonie, but the Falcons had upset on their minds, never leading, but always managing to take big bites out of Stout leads.

Stout (12-4, 7-2) took a 30-19 first half lead before the Falcons (6-12, 2-8) slashed the lead to four points, 38-34, with 15 minutes left in the game. Powered by two back-to-back buckets by Jacob Nonemacher and five points by an ailing Ryan Stangl, Stout went on a 16-5 run to take a 15-point, 54-39, lead midway through the half.

The pesky Falcons cut the lead to one point, 57-56, with six minutes remaining as Jeff Holt scored 10 and Eric Kossorsis seven in the run.

Stangl answered back with two quick 3-pointers to shoot Stout back to a 63-56 lead at 5:37. The never-say-die Falcons managed to pull to within two points, 72-70, with two minutes left on the clock. Adam Chandler knocked down 5-of-6 free throw attempts down the stretch to give Stout enough breathing room.

Coupled with first place UW-Stevens Point's loss to UW-Platteville, the Stout win pulled the Blue Devils to within a half game of first place behind the Pointers and the Pioneers.
Stout will host UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m.

Nonemacher led Stout with 16 points. Stangl came off the bench to score 14, while Chandler added 13 and Terry Farmer, 12. The Falcons' Holt led all scorers with 18 points. Kossoris chipped in 16 and Hans Hoeg, 12.