Issued: February 8, 2003

LARSON'S OUTSIDE SHOOTING LIFTS BLUGOLDS OVER FALCONS

EAU CLAIRE - Jason Larson (Sr.-Sugar Land, TX/Stephen F. Austin) connected on a season-high seven three-pointers in leading the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team to a 77-70 victory over UW-River Falls here tonight at W. L. Zorn Arena.

Larson and River Falls' Rich Melzer went back and forth all game long with Larson hitting long jumpers and Melzer hitting shots in the paint. For the game Larson poured in 33 points and pulled down 11 boards while Melzer scored 39 to go along with 13 rebounds.

Eau Claire and River Falls exchanged baskets throughout the first half with the Blugolds holding the biggest lead of the half at six. With four seconds remaining in the half Dan Archambault (So.-Oshkosh/West) made a lay-up that sent Eau Claire into half with a 31-29 lead.

The Blugolds came out firing in the second half scoring the first seven points of the half. Eau Claire would stretch their lead to a game-high 14 on Larson's sixth three of the game. The Blugolds would maintain a double-digit lead until the Falcons went on an 11-2 run to get within four points with 3:56 remaining.

River Falls would get no closer than four though as Eau Claire hit 12 of 14 free throws down the stretch to ice the game.

Andy Witte (Sr.-Madison/Monona Grove) helped clean the glass for the Blugolds as he pulled down 10 rebounds to push Eau Claire to a 42-24 rebounding advantage. Witte added 13 points and Archambault had 10 points and nine assists.

Both teams shot 26 of 55 from the floor for a 47.3 percent shooting percentage but the Blugolds hit four more threes and three more free throws.

The win moves Eau Claire's record to 14-8 overall and 6-7 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.

The Blugolds will be back in action Wednesday as they travel to Oshkosh to take on the Titans. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box