WHITEWATER - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team had a five-game win streak snapped tonight losing to UW-Whitewater 70-62.

The loss drops the Blugolds to 8-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The win gives the Warhawks an overall record of 9-2 and a conference record of 4-0.

The Warhawks scored the first basket of the game and held the lead throughout, but it wasn't easy. The Blugolds kept it close for the first 16 minutes of the first half down only 23-19 with 3:59 to play. However, the Warhawks would outscore the Blugolds 12-4 in the final four minutes of the half to go into halftime with a 35-23 lead.

The Blugolds out-shot the Warhawks in the first half with the UWEC shooting 47.4% and the Warhawks shooting 46.9%. However, the Blugolds committed 19 turnovers in the half compared to just eight by the Warhawks.

The Blugolds would out-score the Warhawks 14-3 the first six minutes of the second half to cut Whitewater's lead to one. The Warhawks extended the lead back to seven with 9:41 remaining in the game.

The Blugolds would cut the lead back to one with 4:30 remaining in the game after two Tyler Birkel (Sr.-Spring Valley, WI) free throws. With a four-point lead in the final minute the Warhawks would hit four of their six free throws to ice the game. The Warhawks would go onto win 70-62.

The Blugolds out-shot and out-rebounded in the Warhawks in the game, but the 27 turnovers hurt UWEC.

The Blugolds' Zack Ryan (So.-Lake Elmo, MN/Tartan) led all-scorers with 19 points. Ryan went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. Dan Ottney (So.-Glenwood City, WI) added 13 points and Matt Riley (Jr.-Cadott, WI) had 10.

Up next the Blugolds will host UW-Oshkosh in the second game of a men's and women's doubleheader Saturday night in Zorn Arena. The men's game is scheduled to begin at approximately 7 p.m. following the women's game.

Eau Claire-Whitewater Box Score

- JR -