Issued: February 15, 2003

BLUGOLD MEN TOPPLE 14TH RANKED WARHAWKS

EAU CLAIRE - Dan Archambault (So-Oshkosh/West) scored a career-high 31 points and the Blugolds hit 27-of-32 free throws as the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team defeated 14th ranked UW-Whitewater 77-64 here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match up.

The Blugolds' record improves to 15-9 overall and just one game under .500 in WIAC play at 7-8. Whitewater falls to 17-5 on the season and 9-5 in conference action. The Warhawks lose their second game in a row for the first time all season with the loss against the Blugolds. The Blugolds get a little revenge with the win as they dropped an 84-75 overtime game in Whitewater earlier this season in which the Warhawks made it to the free throw line 67 times.

Eau Claire dominated the paint out-rebounding Whitewater 38-21 and taking a slim advantage in second-chance points. Andy Witte (Sr-Madison/Monona Grove) grabbed a game-best 16 rebounds to lead the Blugolds to the huge advantage.

The Blugolds started off hot as Archambault and Jason Larson (Sr-Sugarland, TX/Stephen F. Austin) caught fire from the floor. Archambault nailed four trifectas and Larson scored eight points in the opening seven minutes giving the Blugolds a 13 point margin and causing Whitewater to spend an early timeout.

The Whitewater break proved to do little for the visiting Warhawks as the Blugolds not only maintained the lead, but extended it to 17 points with seven minutes to play. Whitewater made a charge and cut the lead to nine but Nate Beck (So-Rothschild/D.C. Everest) and Casey Drake (So-Rhinelander) each hit a pair of free throws in the closing minutes to give the Blugolds a 47-34 halftime advantage.

Archambault finished with 18 first half points while Larson added 12. The Blugolds shot a sizzling 55.6 percent from the floor in the first half, including 6-of-9 from behind the arc.

As past WIAC action has proven, no lead in conference play is safe. The Warhawks came out of the gate in the second half and slowly chiseled away at the Blugold lead. With 11:47 remaining in the contest, the Blugolds held a slim 55-52 lead.

Eau Claire, who has played victim to three overtime losses this season, was determined not to let another close game slip away. The Blugolds put together a solid string of possessions and rebuilt an 11 point advantage. Ryan Wietor (So-West Bend/West) scored four points for Eau Claire during the run. The Warhawks pulled as close as six in the final minutes but the Blugolds sank 10-of-12 free throws in the final 2:44 to ice the game. Archambault hit his final six free throws down the stretch to lead the Blugolds in scoring with 31 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including sinking 9-of-10 free throws and 4-of-7 three-pointers.

After the Warhawks held a 3-2 lead very early in the game, the Blugolds regained the lead and would never relinquish the advantage for the duration of the contest.

Larson finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists despite playing limited minutes due to a bloody nose caused by an errant Warhawk elbow. The elbow drew a Whitewater offensive foul but sent the Blugolds leading scorer to the locker room for trainer assistance and a jersey change. Wietor finished with 11 points and five rebounds while Witte scored six points to go along with his 16 boards.

London Donlow led the Warhawks with 16 points while Aubrey Lewis-Byers added 14. Ernest Williams grabbed a team-best six rebounds to go along with 13 points.

The Blugolds have one regular season game remaining before heading to WIAC postseason tournament play. Eau Claire will host Platteville for a 7:00 match up Wednesday night at W.L. Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire-Whitewater Box