Issued: February 25, 2003

BLUGOLDS UPSET FALCONS TO ADVANCE TO WIAC SEMIS

RIVER FALLS - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team went into the Karges Center and upset third-seeded UW-River Falls 68-65 to advance to the semifinals of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament here tonight.

Dan Archambault (So.-Oshkosh/West) led the Blugolds in scoring with 20 points on five of nine shooting. Archambault also added four assists and two steals.

Eau Claire built an 11 point lead halfway through the second half when Archambault hit a jumper to conclude a 7-0 run with 11:58 remaining in the game.

The Falcons were able to claw back to within three points on a Micah Helfrey free throw with 2:35 remaining. But Jason Larson (Sr.-Sugar Land, TX/Stephen F. Austin) scored four points down the stretch for Eau Claire to seal the victory.

The first half was back and forth as there were seven lead changes and neither team held a lead greater than five points. River Falls led by five with 7:34 remaining in the half but the Blugolds closed the half on a 13-4 run to take a 31-27 advantage into halftime.

Larson played a complete game scoring 18 points, handing out six assists and pulling down five rebounds. Andy Witte (Sr.-Madison/Monona Grove) added 10 points. Witte and Nate Beck (So.-Rothschild/D.C. Everest) pulled down seven boards a piece to lead the team.

Rich Melzer led River Falls in scoring with 33 points to go along with 11 rebounds.

With the win Eau Claire advances to play UW-Whitewater after the Warhawks defeated UW-Platteville 64-61 tonight. The Blugolds split games with Whitewater this year getting a win at home and losing in overtime in Whitewater. The game will be played in Whitewater and is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box