SUPERIOR - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team was in control for most of the game in its 90-71 victory tonight over UW-Superior at the Mortorelli Gymnasium.

With the win the Blugolds improve to 12-12 overall and 4-11 in conference play. The Yellowjackets fall to 5-19 overall and 0-15 in the conference.

Dan Beyer (So.-Waukesha, WI/Catholic Memorial) started things off for the Blugolds by connecting on a 3-pointer to start the game. The Yellowjackets would hang around for the first 10 minutes of the first half down just 21-19. That's when the Blugolds blew it open, going on an 18-0 run to lead 39-19 with 4:57 to go in the half.

The Blugolds would go into halftime with a 47-30 advantage. The Yellowjackets actually shot better than the Blugolds in the first half, as they shot 56%. The Blugolds shot just 48% in the half, but went 9-of-16 from beyond the arc and made nine more free throws than the Yellowjackets.

The Yellowjackets would only get as close as 15 in the second half. The Blugolds biggest lead was 24 on two occasions in the half. The Blugolds would easily go on to win 90-71.

Superior ended up shooting 55% for the game, while the Blugolds shot just 48%. The Blugolds were 13-of-28 on 3-pointers and 19-27 from the free throw line. The Blugolds forced 16 Yellowjacket-turnovers, while just committing nine.

Dan Beyer led the Blugolds in scoring with a career-high 22 points. Beyer was 8-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-3 from 3-point land. He also led the team in rebounds with five. Jared Bardon (So.-DeForest, WI) was right behind him as he scored 19 points and had five assists. Zack Ryan (So.-Lake Elmo, MN/Tartan) added 12 points and Tyler Birkel (Sr.-Spring Valley, WI) rounded out the Blugolds in double-figures with 11.

Conference leading scorer Leonard Cobb led all scorers with 28 points for the Yellowjackets.

With the win head coach Terry Gibbons passed UW-Superior head coach Ted Whereatt for 15th on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) all-time win's list with 175. Eleven days earlier at Finlandia (MI) Gibbons passed Dick Bennett of UW-Stevens Point recording his 174th career win against the Lions.

Next, the Blugolds will return home for their regular season finale against UW-Whitewater on Saturday. The tip-off is scheduled to begin at approximately 5 p.m. following the women's game in Zorn Arena.

Blugold Stats

Points: Matt Riley 9, Beyer 22, Ryan 12, Ottney 2, Bardon 19, Holewinski 5, Meier 8, Furton 2, Birkel 11.

Rebounds: Matt Riley 3, Beyer 5, Ryan 1, Ottney 2, Bardon 3, Tony Riley 1, Holewinski 2, Meier 3, Supalla 1, Furton 4, Vetterkind 2, Birkel 2.

Assists: Matt Riley 1, Ryan 4, Ottney 2, Bardon 5, Meier 2, Furton 1, Vetterkind 2

- JR -