Box Score EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team erased a 38-24 halftime deficit to defeat UW-River Falls tonight 57-56, and in doing so snapped a two-game losing streak.
With the win the Blugolds improve to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The loss drops the Falcons to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the WIAC.
The Blugolds started out the game sluggish shooting just 32% in the first half. The Falcons on the other hand, shot the ball very well in the first half shooting 58.3%. The Falcons were on fire from beyond the arc going 6-for-8 in the half. The Falcons also out-rebounded the Blugolds 20-10 in the half as the Falcons went into halftime with a 38-24 lead.
The start of the second half was no different as the Falcons jumped out to a 19-point lead with 12:27 remaining with hot outside shooting. From that point however, the Blugolds' defense would pickup the intensity as the Falcons would just make two field goal attempts in the final 12 minutes.
The Blugolds also got hot from the field. The Blugolds hit three consecutive threes with 6:28 remaining to cut a 14-point lead down to five and cap off a 17-0 run. Two of the three three-pointers came from Jared Bardon (So.-DeForest, WI). The Blugolds would complete the comeback and take their first lead of the game with 27 seconds left on a Dan Ottney (So.-Glenwood City, WI) lay-up. The Falcons' Hans Hoeg final desperation shot was off the mark and the Blugolds pulled off a remarkable 57-56 comeback victory.
In the final 12 minutes the Blugolds outscored the Falcons 25-5. The Blugolds shot 46.4% in the half and were 5-of-11 from three.
Leading the way for the Blugolds was Bardon who had 20 points, including 13 in the second half. He was also 3-for-5 from beyond the arc in the second half. Point Guard Zack Ryan (So.-Lake Elmo, MN/Tartan) added 10 points for the Blugolds.
The Blugolds forced 21 Falcon turnovers in the game compared to just 10 committed by the UWEC. The Blugolds also outscored the Falcons in the paint 26-12 and on second chance points 19-5.
Up next the Blugolds will host Finlandia University in a non-conference match-up Monday night in Zorn Arena. The action is set to tip-off at 7 p.m.
Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score
- JR -
