EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - After scoring the first two points of the contest, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team was unable to keep the momentum going and fell 79-60 to the sixth-ranked UW-Whitewater Warhawks today at Zorn Arena.

With the loss the Blugolds fall to 11-8 overall and 5-6 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Whitewater improves to 17-3 on the season and 9-2 in the WIAC. Eau Claire is now tied for fourth in the conference with UW-Oshkosh, which won a double-overtime game 80-78 against UW-Stout earlier this afternoon. The Warhawks are in third place in the conference.

After Whitewater took a two-point lead two and a half minutes into the contest, the Warhawks would never let the Blugolds take back control. Whitewater built a double-digit lead with more than 10 minutes remaining but the Blugolds got to within seven near the end of the first half. Whitewater then hit one more basket before the end of the half to go back up by nine with the score 38-29.

In the second period Eau Claire closed the gap to eight twice. After the Blugolds got to within eight the second time, the Warhawks used an 8-0 run to increase their lead back to 16. The Blugolds would not be able to cut the lead back to single digits again and the Warhawks eventually took home the 79-60 victory.

The Warhawks edged Eau Claire on the glass, pulling down 40 rebounds to Eau Claire's 29. Each team committed 12 turnovers but Eau Claire was able to convert them to 16 points while Whitewater only scored 10.

Ryan Shea (So.-Duluth, Minn./East) led the way for Eau Claire with 17 points. He also recorded a game-high four steals. Dan Beyer (Sr.-Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) and Geoff Probst (Jr.-Moose Lake, Minn.) each added 10 points and Probst came up with a team-high seven rebounds. Colin Boone (Jr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) led the game with five assists.

Myles McKay led the game with 18 points, but Kori Vernon picked up a double-double for the Warhawks with 15 points and 12 boards. Matt Goodwin also finished with 15 points.

The Blugolds will be back at home for another WIAC matchup against UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire-Whitewater Box Score

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