WHEATON, Ill. - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team recorded its first victory of the 2008-09 season, defeating the College of Staten Island (N.Y.) 100-67 in the consolation game of Wheaton College's Lee Pfund Classic at King Arena tonight.

The Blugolds are now 1-1 on the season, while Staten Island drops to 0-3. This was the second meeting between the two teams all-time. Eau Claire last played Staten Island on December 28, 1980 and picked up a 66-51 win. The last time the Blugolds scored 100 or more points was in their season opener last year, a 137-132 loss to Grinnell College.

The first half was played fairly even with the lead changing three times and the score being tied four times. Eau Claire led by as much as nine in the first half but Staten Island also had its opportunities and led by as much as four once as well. The momentum shifted in the Blugolds' favor by the end of the half and the Blugolds took a four point lead into halftime, and they would never look back.

Eau Claire carried a run over from the first half that began at 2:09 and did not allow Staten Island to score a point until four minutes had gone by in the second. The six-minute run ended with the Blugolds outscoring Staten Island 17-0. The Blugolds steadily increased their lead throughout the rest of the game and led by as much as 37 points with less than a minute to go.

The Blugolds dominated the boards in tonight's game, pulling down 46 rebounds, including 14 offensive, to Staten Island's 30. The Blugolds ended the contest shooting 58.1 percent from the field, while Staten Island finished with 38.6 percent.

Five Blugolds finished with double-figures, led by Ryan Shea (So.-Duluth, Minn./East) who scored 16 points. Dan Beyer (Sr.-Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) and Colin Boone (Jr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) each finished with 15 points, playing only 21 and 23 minutes, respectively. Jordan Kappen (Jr.-Blair, Wis./Blair-Taylor) and Geoff Probst (Jr.-Moose Lake, Minn.) each added 10 points. When all was said and done, all 19 Blugolds saw action in tonight's game and 17 scored points.

Shea was also the team's leading rebounder, pulling down eight. Kappen grabbed five, while Mark Tiefel (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Immanuel) and Beyer each had four. Shea led the game with four steals and Boone led with five assists.

Three Staten Island players reached double-digits, with Jordan Young leading with a game-high 18 points. Ryan Hennessey added 13, while Mike Pulci scored 10. Young also led the game with nine boards.

The Blugolds will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Oshkosh for the UW-Oshkosh Classic. On Friday the Blugolds will take on Dordt College (Neb.) and will face Clarke College (Iowa) on Saturday. Both games are slated to begin at 5 p.m.

Eau Claire-Staten Island Box Score

- KM -