Box Score EAU CLAIRE - In the second game of a men's and women's doubleheader the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team came up short against UW-Oshkosh falling 68-58.
The loss drops the Blugolds to 8-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The win gives the Titans a 9-4 overall record and a 3-2 conference record.
The Titans jumped out early on the Blugolds leading 12-3 three minutes into the game. Oshkosh's lead would grow to as much as 13 with 9.53 remaining in the first half. The Blugolds would battle back and cut the lead down to four (30-26) after two Luke Meier (So.-Cross Plains, WI/Middleton) free throws. The Titans would end up going into halftime with a 32-26 lead.
The Titans shot 45.8% in the first half, while the Blugolds shot 38.5%. The Blugolds had 10 turnovers in the half, but out-rebounded the Titans 19-12.
The Titans would get their lead up to 10 five minutes into the second half. The Blugolds would then go on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to two after a Dan Beyer (So.-Waukesha, WI/Catholic Memorial) jumper. The Titans would answer with an 8-0 run of their own to put the lead back to 10 halfway through the second half.
The Blugolds would then inch back in the game and cut the Titan lead to 54-53 with 3:36 remaining. The Titans would hang onto their lead and following a Blugold technical foul with 1:30 remaining, the Titans would hit 8-of-9 free throw attempts to pull away from the Blugolds and win 68-58.
The Blugolds out-shot the Titans in the game, shooting 46.9%, while the Titans shot just 42.9%. Turnovers once again hurt the Blugolds as they had 17 for the game that led to 23 Titan points.
Jared Bardon (So.-DeForest, WI) led the Blugolds in scoring with 16 points. Bardon also led the team in rebounding with five boards. Zack Ryan (So.-Lake Elmo, MN/Tartan) and Dan Ottney (So.-Glenwood City, WI) each added eight points. The Titans' Andy Jahnke led all scorers with 19 points.
Up next the Blugolds will travel to face UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday night. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Eau Claire-Oshkosh Box Score
- JR -
