EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team shot only 11.4 percent from the field in the second half in losing to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent UW-River Falls 42-41 here tonight at Zorn Arena.

The Blugolds shot a season-low 22.6 percent from the field and scored a season-low 41 points. Eau Claire falls to 4-4 in the WIAC and 10-6 overall with the loss.

A Dan Archambault (Sr.-Oshkosh/West) three-pointer put the Blugolds up 37-27 with 14:08 left in regulation. The Eau Claire offense then went cold going scoreless for nearly 12 minutes. The Falcons went on a 13-0 run over the scoreless stretch going up 40-37 with 4:34 left.

Buck Smith (Jr.-Superior) ended the drought with two free throws to close the deficit to 40-39. Smith put the Blugolds back on top moments later putting back an Eau Claire miss to give the Blugolds a 41-40 lead.

River Falls retook the lead seconds later on a Dan Torrez lay-up to go up 42-41 with 48 seconds remaining. The Blugolds got four shots at the basket in the final 10 seconds but couldn't convert as Casey Drake's (Sr.-Rhinelander) jumper was blocked as time expired.

Eau Claire controlled most of the first half jumping out to an early 15-4 lead following a Chad Honl (So.-Eau Claire/Memorial) three-pointer. The Falcons countered going on a 14-4 run to close to within 19-18 with 4:57 left in the opening half. The Blugolds would close the half on an 11-3 run taking a 30-21 into the locker room.

Archambault led Eau Claire with 11 points with nine coming from behind the three point line with Smith adding 10. Smith and Kale Proksch (Jr.-Chaseburg/Westby) lead the Blugolds to a 50-36 rebounding advantage. Smith pulled down a career-high 15 boards while Proksch had 10. It was the first time since Feb. 8, 2003 that Eau Claire had two players with double-digit rebounds.

The Blugolds will be in action next when they travel to Platteville to take on the Pioneers Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score

- JL -