EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team set a school record with 16 three-pointers in defeating non-conference opponent Wisconsin Lutheran 97-72 here tonight.

Five players connected from beyond the arc for the Blugolds led by Dan Archambault's (Sr.-Oshkosh/West) career-high eight threes. Jared Bardon (Fr.-DeForest) added four threes in only 11 minutes. Eau Claire hit eight threes in each half finishing the game 16-29 from behind the arc. The 16 threes shattered the old record of 12 set in 1989 and equaled in 1995.

The Blugolds were hitting from all over the floor finishing the game 35 of 55 from the floor. The 63.6 percent shooting was the highest since an 86-73 win over Gustavus Adolphus Dec. 30, 1999.

The game remained close for a majority of the first half with Eau Claire trailing 28-24. Archambault then led the Blugolds on a 28-11 run as he hit five threes in the final 7:39 of the half to send Eau Claire into halftime leading 52-39.

After allowing the opening basket of the second half the Blugolds went on a 23-9 run to go up 75-50 with 12:33 left. Eau Claire pushed the lead to a game-high 28 points on Bardon's third three-pointer and equaled that 28-point lead in the final moments on a Dean Furton (Fr.-Marinette) jumper.

Archambault led five Blugolds in double figures with 24 points. Casey Drake (Sr.-Rhinelander) played a strong all-around game finishing with 12 points, ten assists and six rebounds. The career-high ten assists all came in the first half.

Bardon added 12 points while Kale Proksch (Jr.-Chaseburg/Westby) and Colin Walsh (So.-La Crosse/Aquinas) each added a season-high 11 points. Proksch led Eau Claire to a 36-18 rebounding advantage with seven boards.

The Blugolds bench played a strong game combining for 36 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, five steals and four blocks. Chad Honl (So.-Eau Claire/Memorial) had all four blocks while Walsh had four of the five steals.

Eau Claire improves to 12-8 on the year while the Warriors fall to 9-11.

The Blugolds will be in action next when they host UW-Whitewater Wednesday at Zorn Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-Wisconsin Lutheran Box Score

- JL -