EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (
www.blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team was back on the court for the final time in 2023 with a nonconference matchup with St. Olaf College before ringing in the new year. A fast start from the Blugolds kept them from looking back as they rode a 22-point halftime lead till the very end, defeating the Oles 87-60.
The buckets came early and often for UW-Eau Claire as they stormed out to a 14-2 in the opening seven minutes of play.
Carter Lichtsinn (So. – Olathe, Kan./Olathe West) recorded his first six points of the game on three straight layups and two personal defensive rebounds, giving UWEC the 12-point lead.
Michael Casper (Sr. – Merrill, Wis.) added to the action minutes later with a pair of shots from beyond the arc to increase the Blugold lead to 18. Scoring from the paint was prevalent for UWEC from the beginning as they recorded 28 of their 48 total points down low I the opening half.
Cade Hall (Sr. – Mauston, Wis.) led UWEC with 12 points and four rebounds at halftime as the Blugolds held a 44-22 lead.
In the second half, the momentum continued to slant in favor of the home team as Eau Claire found their biggest lead of the game at the 11:32 mark with a three pointer from
Gunnar Tebon (Sr. – Sturgeon Bay, Wis.). Tebon's shot from downtown increased the scoring gap to 27 with a 66-39 UWEC lead. Points off turnovers were key for UWEC all night as they tallied 20 points off 14 St. Olaf turnovers, including a steal and fast break dunk from
Carter Huschka (Sr. – Farmington, Minn.) in the second half, keeping the UWEC lead well above 20. Huschka ended the night leading the Blugolds with 18 points.
Seven of the Blugolds' ten total three-pointers came during the second half shooting frenzy five different UWEC players splashed from beyond the line. Scoring from the bench helped propel Eau Claire to their lopsided victory as 35 points came from substitutes, compared to St. Olaf's 14 bench points. A three pointer from
Derek Lindert (So. – Pardeeville, Wis.) sealed the 87-60 victory from Zorn Arena.
The Blugolds (7-4) will be back at home on Wednesday, January 3
rd to begin Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play with #24 ranked UW-Platteville in town. Tipoff from Zorn Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
