RIVER FALLS - In a tight game that featured nine ties, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team fell to UW-River Falls tonight 59-57.

The loss drops the Blugolds to 11-11 overall and 3-10 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) action. The victory gives the Falcons a 6-16 overall record and a 5-9 WIAC record.

The Blugolds hit the first basket of the game on a Matt Riley (Jr.-Cadott, WI) 3-pointer. Neither team would then lead by more five points the entire first half. There were six ties total in the first half. With the Falcons up 23-19 with 5:16 to go in the first half, the Blugolds would go on an 8-0 run to go up by four with 1:27 to go. The Blugolds would go into halftime with a 29-27 lead.

Both teams shot over 40% in the half with Falcons shooting 45% and the Blugolds 40%. The Blugolds out-rebounded River Falls 16-13 in the half.

The Blugolds would extend their lead to six, their largest of the game, after a two Dan Beyer (So.-Waukesha, WI/Catholic Memorial) free throws. The Blugolds would keep the lead until halfway through the second half after a Falcon 3-pointer gave them the lead back.

The Blugolds would bounce back and go up 54-50 after a Luke Meier (So.-Cross Plains, WI/Middleton) 3-pointer with 5:13 to go in the game. The Falcons would then outscore the Blugolds 9-3 the rest of the game. The teams would trade the lead the final four minutes, but Hans Hoeg's jumper put the Falcons up for good with 19 seconds left as River Falls went on to win 59-57.

The Blugolds shot exactly the same in the second half as in the first half with the same made field goals, 10, and the same shot attempts, 25. The Falcons ended up shooting 44% for the game. The Falcons out-rebounded the Blugolds in the second half 21-14.

The Blugolds were very balanced as they had four guys score in double-figures. Dan Ottney (So.-Glenwood City, WI) and Matt Riley led the team with 12 points. Dan Beyer and Jared Bardon (So.-DeForest, WI) each added 10 points. Bardon and Riley each led the team in rebounds with six. Ryan Zylstra led all scorers with 27 points for the Falcons

The Blugolds will now travel to face UW-Oshkosh on Saturday. The action is scheduled to get underway at 5 p.m. after the women's game.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score

- JR -