Issued: December 7, 2002

MEN'S BASKETBALL EDGES BLUE DEVILS

MENOMONIE - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team converted on all 10 free throws they attempted in the first half en route to defeating the UW-Stout Blue Devils 80-74 here tonight at Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Blugolds improve their record to 6-1 on the season and 2-0 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play while the Blue Devils fall to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in WIAC action.

In a game that saw the score tied on 14 different occasions, both teams were extremely close in all game statistics except for free throws. The Blugolds attempted 30 free throws on the evening, converting 23 of them, while the Blue Devils shot just 19 times from the line, making 15.

The first half was as close as a game can get as no team led by more than five points. The scoreboard showed identical scores for both teams 11 times in the first half. With the score knotted up at 32, Eau Claire converted four straight free throws to end the half with a 36-32 lead. The Blugolds finished the first half a perfect 10-for-10 on free throw attempts.

A series of mini-runs by each team in the second half eventually left the game tied at 56 with just over seven minutes to play. Stout took a one point lead 33 seconds later but Eau Claire fired up seven straight points to take a six point advantage early in the second half. The Blugolds would extend the lead to as much as eight with 2:28 remaining. Stout cut the lead to two points with 28 second remaining but Eau Claire nailed its last eight free throw attempts to hold on to the victory.

Jason Larson (Sugarland, TX/Stephen F. Austin) put up a game-high 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting for Eau Claire. Larson also grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists while hitting an incredible five shots from behind the three point arc. Dan Archambault (So-Oshkosh/West) had a big game as he scored 24 points for the Blugolds while hitting all nine free throw attempts. Nate Beck (So-Rothschild/D.C. Everest) also contributed double-digit points for the Blugolds as he totaled 12 points while also shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe. Andy Witte (Sr-Madison/Monona Grove) grabbed a team best six rebounds for Eau Claire and also blocked two Blue Devil shots.

Eau Claire will resume action this Wednesday against UW-Superior. Tip-off is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. at W.L. Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire-Stout Box