Issued: December 21, 2002

OUTSIDE SHOOTING LIFTS BLUGOLDS TO VICTORY

DULUTH - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team never trailed in shooting 11 for 16 from three-point range in defeating the College of St. Scholastica 82-53 at "The Kennel" here today.

The Blugolds started the shooting clinic early with three pointers from Jason Larson (Sr.-Sugar Land, TX/Stephen F. Austin) and Will Jefferson (So.-Wausau/East) to take a 6-0 lead in the opening moments of the game. From there Eau Claire used two 8-0 runs to build a 40-18 halftime lead.

In the first half the Blugolds shot five of seven from long range and 50 percent overall while holding the Saints to 30.4 percent shooting.

Eau Claire didn't let up in the second half going on a 21-4 run to start the half highlighted by three more treys from Larson and two from Dan Archambault (So.-Oshkosh/West) in building a 61-24 lead.

For the game, Larson scored 26 including five for five from long range. Archambault and Casey Drake (Jr.-Rhinelander) each added 10. Andy Witte (Sr.-Madison/Monona Grove) pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds in leading the Blugolds to a 39-26 rebound advantage.

Eau Claire shot 50 percent for the game while allowing St. Scholastica to shoot only 34.7 percent from the field.

Matt Schiller shot four of four from three point range in leading the Saints with 17 points.

The win improves the Blugolds record to 8-1 and drops St. Scholastica to 2-9.

The Blugolds will come home to play in the Holiday Classic December 29 and 30. Eau Claire will open the tournament with an 8 p.m. game against William Penn University.

Eau Claire-St. Scholastica Box