News Release

MENOMONIE, Wis. — Ryan Stangl produced just the boost UW-Stout needed in the second half, complementing a steady performance by Terry Farmer, as the Blue Devils defeated UW-River Falls, 75-65, in the quarterfinals of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament Tuesday at Johnson Fieldhouse.

With the Blue Devils (20-5) putting up a lackluster first half, Stout, the tournament's No. 2 seed, trailed the No. 7 seeded Falcons (6-19), 37-29 at halftime.

A 3-pointer by Stangl with four minutes gone in the second half put Stout ahead, 42-41, for the first time since leading 18-17 at the 7:28 mark of the first half. A three-point play by Brian Buck (Sr, Minneapolis, Minn) and a jumper just inside the arc by Stangl gave Stout a 47-41 lead.

Stangl drained another 3-pointer, but the Falcons were not finished. Eric Kossoris hit a 3-pointer, Ryan Zylstra a jumper and Mark James a 3-pointer the Falcons up by two, 50-52 with 8:32 left.

Farmer, who would lead all scorers with 20 points, knotted the game at 52, and Zylstra put the Falcons ahead with a single free throw.

Stangl, who would score 15 second half points, sandwiched five points around an Adam Chandler 3-pointer before the Falcons chipped back, eventually cutting the deficit to a 62-60 Stout lead. Greg Chaisson put Stout up 65-60 on a 3-pointer, but Hans Hoeg cut into the lead, 65-63, with a three point play. Farmer pushed the lead back out to four. John Nonemacher powered to the basket for a dunk to give Stout a 69-63 lead with two minutes remaining in the contest.

River Falls got their final points on two free throws by Hoeg and Stout developed a cushion from the free throw line, making six consecutive free throws to close out the game.

The Falcons controlled the game early, shooting 63 percent in the first half, holding as much as an 11 point with 1:45 left in the first half. Hoeg sparked the Falcons with 10 first half point, including two 3-pointers. The Falcons drained 5-of-8 3-point shots in the first half.

As effective as the Falcons shot in the first half, they shot poorly in the second half, hitting only 27 percent and finished the game at 43 percent. Stout shot a steady 48 percent throughout the game.

Farmer led all scorers with 20 points and completed the double-double with 10 rebounds. Stangl finished with 17 points and Jacob Nonemacher tossed in 10 points.

Hoeg led the Falcons with 18 points. Ryan Zylstra finished with 14 points and Eric Kossoris, 13. The 20 wins by Stout this season is the first 20-win season since the 1968-69 season.

Stout will now host UW-Stevens Point, which defeated UW-Platteville 70-65, Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. The Pointers are the only team to have defeated Stout twice this season.