Issued: November 23, 2002

MEN'S BASKETBALL TOPS ST. OLAF TO WIN TIP-OFF TOURNEY

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team shot just nearly 53 percent from the field en route to defeating St. Olaf 79-58 in the championship game of the 26th annual Tip-Off Tournament here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena. The victory marks the 24th time the Blugolds have won the tournament.

Eau Claire jumped out to a 24-14 lead with less than seven minutes to play in the first half but the Oles battled back on the strength of 10 first-half points by Nate Beck to cut the lead to 32-28 at halftime.

The Blugolds would run away with the game in the second half outscoring St. Olaf 47-30 largely in part to Dan Archambault (So-Oshkosh/West) who scored all 16 of his points in the second half. Jason Larson (Sugar Land, TX/Stephen F. Austin) scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to finish the Oles and give the Blugolds the Tip-Off Tourney title. Larson also contributed seven assists for Eau Claire. Nate Beck (So-Rothschild/D.C. Everest) and Andy Witte (Sr-Madison/Monona Grove) each scored 11 points for Eau Claire.

Eau Claire scored 20 points in the paint on the strength of seven rebounds apiece from Witte and Kale Proksch (Fr-Westby). Eau Claire also dominated St. Olaf in steals compiling nine to the Oles zero.

Blugold Jason Larson won Tournament Most Valuable Player honors scoring 36 points in two games and compiling 12 assists. He also received the Playmaker Award, which is awarded to the player with the most tournament assists. Dan Archambault and Andy Witte were also named to the eight-player All-Tournament Team.

In the consolation game of the tournament Cornell College of Iowa took care of Northland College by a score of 74-62. Luke Fedderson led the way for the Rams scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

The Blugolds will next battle the Milwaukee School of Engineering Tuesday night at W.L. Zorn Arena in Eau Claire. Tip-off is set for 7:30.

Tip-Off Tournament Summary

Eau Claire-St. Olaf Box

Northland-Cornell Box