EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team earned a series split with UW-Stout by defeating the Blue Devils 81-77 in a War on 94 matchup Saturday at Zorn Arena.
Cade Hall (Sr. - Mauston, Wis.) and
Carter Huschka (Sr. - Farmington, Minn.) both set new career scoring highs to help propel the Blugolds to victory in the final meeting between the two programs at historic Zorn Arena.
Hall poured in 33 points and Huschka was close behind with 28. The two accounted for all but 20 of UW-Eau Claire's points in the victory. Hall knocked down six 3-pointers, while Huschka went 10 of 16 from the field with nine rebounds.
"I'm proud of our guys," Blugolds head coach
Matt Siverling said. "They've been working hard all season and wins have been difficult to come by. Tonight we were able to go out and put two halves together. The other night when we beat River Falls, we were talking about how we've always played great first halves or second halves and it's been a struggle to put two halves together. Tonight we did that."
In a back-and-forth Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) affair, the Blugolds (10-13, 3-9) dealt the decisive blow in the final five minutes. UW-Stout (10-13, 5-7) led 67-66 when the clock passed the five-minute mark in the second half, but a 3-pointer from Hall with 4:49 to go gave UW-Eau Claire the lead for good. The Blue Devils knocked down a 3 of their own with 2:10 left to make it a 73-72 game, but the Blugolds made enough free throws down the stretch to hold on. Huschka's thunderous dunk with 41 seconds left ignited the crowd at Zorn Arena and helped seal the victory.
UW-Eau Claire held the lead more often than not over the course of the game, sitting ahead of the Blue Devils for more than 36 minutes of action. UW-Stout didn't go away until the final few minutes of regulation though.
The Blugolds forced the Blue Devils into 15 turnovers and blocked five shots. UW-Eau Claire shot 46% from the field.
Hall bettered his previous career best by 13 points. Huschka extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 16 games.
Drew Maloney (Jr. - St. Charles, Minn.) and
Nolan Blair (Sr. - Stevens Point, Wis.) helped round out the scoring with seven points apiece.
"They've been giving (effort) all year long," Siverling said. "Tonight was another great example. Everybody that went in the game gave great effort. The bench was into it, the crowd was into it. It was a great Blugold win tonight."
UW-Eau Claire will look for a third consecutive victory when it visits UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday, February 14. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. The Blugolds won the first meeting this season, 82-73.
