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Issued: November 29, 2007

MEN’S BASKETBALL OPENS UP CONFERENCE PLAY ON ROAD

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Eau Claire men’s basketball team heads to Menomonie this weekend to start its Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) competition in a rivalry game against UW-Stout.

The Blugolds are 3-2 this year and are riding a three-game winning streak that saw wins of 20, 21 and 16 points. Of the two losses, the first is more noteworthy. In that game, Eau Claire set its single-game scoring record despite losing 137-132 to a high-powered Grinnell College (IA) team. The team broke many program records in the game, with the night’s 41 assists also breaking the WIAC mark. Dan Beyer made 15-of-15, which ties for fourth in the NCAA record books for most makes without a miss.

The team is averaging 85.6 points per game while opponents score 77.0. They are staying above halfway in shooting percentage at 53.1 percent while opponents make 38.6 percent of their shots. Opponents have made 18 more threes than Eau Claire, but they’ve also attempted 77 more to make for 30.1 percent. Eau Claire is 26-of-69 (37.7 percent). Dan Mullen (Jr. - St. Paul, MN/Tartan) leads the team with seven threes on 11 shots. From the line, opponents are shooting better, however. They are 95-of-122 (77.9 percent) while the Blugolds sank 80-of-123 (65.0 percent). Ryan Shea (Fr.-Duluth, MN/East) has been outstanding on free throws, going 20-for-20.

Dan Beyer (Sr.-Waukesha/Catholic Memorial) leads the team in scoring at 18.4 points per game while Shea is next at 15.8. Beyer also is tops in rebounds with 8.2 per game. The majority have come on defense, with 78 percent of his boards taking away second-chance points for opponents. The team holds a +3.8 rebounding margin. Zack Ryan (Sr.-Lake Elmo, MN/Tartan) has contributed to the scoring with a team-leading 20 assists.

The Blue Devils are also 3-2 this year and have exactly as many points as their opponents. They average 77 points per game, the amount Eau Claire usually gives up. Stout shoots 45.5 percent from the floor and holds opponents to 42.1 percent. They have been solid on the boards, averaging nearly 10 more rebounds per game than their opponent. They give up the ball 5.4 more times per game, though.

Miles Webb is the team leader in points at 22.0 per game. Alex Mason (12.2) and Jerrel Enerson-Matthews (11.6) also make double-digit figures for regulars. Webb has done well at the line, making 81.8 percent of his 22 shots. The guard has made a presence down low, too, with a team-leading 7.2 boards per contest.

Eau Claire owns the all-time record between these two teams 108-62-1. The Blue Devils have dominated the series lately, taking the last seven games and winning the past four by more than 10. Stout is predicted to finish the year in seventh for the WIAC, one spot of Eau Claire’s predicted position.

The battle for this year’s WIAC crown will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Menomonie.

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