Issued: November 22, 2002

MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS CORNELL IN SEASON OPENER

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team made a nine-point run late in the first half to hold off Cornell College of Iowa in the first round of the Tip-Off Tournament and win their season opener 64-51 here tonight at the W.L. Zorn Arena.

In the first game of the tournament St. Olaf College of Minnesota defeated Northland College 72-42 to advance to the championships where they will face the Blugolds tomorrow evening.

Cornell hung tough with the Blugolds well into the first half until the Blugolds scored nine straight points to extend a one-point lead to a ten-point lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. Eau Claire outscored Cornell seven to four in the rest of the half and took a 37-24 lead into halftime.

The Blugolds dominated the offensive glass totaling 17 offensive rebounds to the Rams five. Eau Claire played tough defense all night compiling 13 steals and holding Cornell to just one-three pointer. The Blugolds knocked down seven shots from behind the arc.

Three members of the Eau Claire team finished the game with double-digit points. Dan Archambault (So-Oshkosh/West) led the way scoring 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting including a game-high three trifectas. Jason Larson (Sugarland, TX/Stephen F. Austin) also put up double-digit points scoring 14 and going 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. Larson also contributed a team high four assists. Ryan Wietor (West Bend/West) provided a spark off the bench adding 10 points.

In the tournament opener St. Olaf jumped out to a 10-3 lead on Northland College in the first four minutes and never looked back en route to a 30 point victory.

Mike Ludwig led the Oles with 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Kevin Jaunich and Tim Nelson also contributed double-digit points for St. Olaf while Matt Schlenker hauled in a game high eight rebounds. Ryan Tiberg led all Northland scorers with 12 points.

Northland and Cornell will play in the third place game tomorrow evening at 6:00. The championship game between Eau Claire and St. Olaf will tip-off at 8:00 p.m.

Eau Claire-Cornell Box

Northland-St. Olaf Box