Issued: January 18, 2003

BLUGOLDS USE SECOND HALF TO DEFEAT ST. MARY'S

WINONA, MN - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team outscored St. Mary's University 50-23 in the second half en route to defeating the Cardinals 78-50 here tonight at the SMU Gym.

The Blugolds and the Cardinals was toe-to-toe throughout the first half with neither team gaining more than a four point advantage. The Blugolds biggest deficit of the game was at four with 10:13 remaining in the first half. By the end of the half Eau Claire would fight back to gain a 28-27 lead going into the half.

Eau Claire charged out of the gate in the second half going on a 30-7 run concluded by an Andy Witte (Sr.-Madison/Monona Grove) jumper. The Blugolds would increase their lead to a game-high 29 at 67-38 with 6:26 remaining.

Dan Archambault (So.-Oshkosh/West) led four players in double figures with 14. Ryan Wietor (Jr.-West Bend/West) added 12 with Witte and Nate Beck (So.-Rothschild/D.C. Everest) each contributing ten.

The Blugolds shot 60 percent in the second half and 50.9 percent for the game while holding the Cardinals to only 35.6 percent shooting for the game. Eau Claire also held a 40-22 advantage on the boards.

The victory improves the Blugolds record to 11-5 overall.

Eau Claire will travel to Platteville Wednesday in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match up. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-St. Mary's Box