EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team gave a fitting farewell to legendary Zorn Arena on Saturday night, defeating UW-La Crosse 83-70 to win the final Blugold basketball game that will ever be played at the iconic venue. A huge second half pushed the Blugolds past the Eagles and sent Zorn Arena — the home of Blugold basketball since 1952 — off in style with a packed crowd on hand to witness.
The longtime home of the Blugolds will be retired after this season as the basketball programs move to the state-of-the-art Sonnentag Event Center next season. Zorn Arena has hosted hundreds of Blugold victories over the last 70-plus years along with dozens of conference championships and national tournament games. Named after W.L. "Bill" Zorn, who coached men's basketball at UW-Eau Claire for 40 years, the arena was the first major post-war public college building to be constructed in Wisconsin after World War II.
Longtime UW-Eau Claire sports information director Tim Petermann once summed up the arena's significance succinctly: "(Zorn Arena) became the place students and community people clamored to be on game nights. Opponents dreaded playing here. Blugold basketball became the campus and community's premier social event on cold, snowy Wisconsin nights."
Zorn was a fortress one final time on Saturday night.
"We talked a lot the last couple days about this being the last game ever in Zorn Arena and all the history," Blugolds head coach
Matt Siverling said. "We just wanted to go out and, win or lose, wanted to make the people that made this place special proud of us, and I thought we did that tonight...I've been very fortunate to get a chance to interact with a lot of former players and former coaches that have played games here and been a big part of this building. To see them in the crowd tonight and hear their stories and the memories that they have is extremely special. The history of this place is unbelievable. To be part of it is great."
After the game was tied at 35 at halftime, the Blugolds (12-13, 5-9) outscored the Eagles (14-11, 8-6) 48-35 in the second half to close out their season on a four-game win streak. The Blugolds honored senior
Nolan Blair (Sr. - Stevens Point, Wis.) after the game and reflected on the many memories that were produced in Zorn Arena.
"It's a little bit bittersweet," Blair said. "Obviously it's so great to get the win, especially on Senior Night, the last day at Zorn Arena. Kind of reflecting on my basketball career, my basketball journey, it's a lot, but what a fun night. I can't thank this program enough."
Saturday's game saw UW-Eau Claire leading 63-61 with eight minutes left. From there, the Blugolds produced the key swing that gave them the victory. They outscored UW-La Crosse 20-9 the rest of the way.
Blair's father, Mike Blair, is believed to have hit the first 3-pointer ever at Zorn Arena. His son, Nolan, hit the last 3-pointer in the gym. Blair put an exclamation mark on the Blugolds' victory on Saturday with a dagger 3 in the closing minutes.
"(My dad told me) keep that in the back of your mind, and then I wasn't even thinking about it but when the clock hit zero, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I guess it all worked out,'"
Nolan Blair said. "But yeah, it's a pretty cool story to have that always between me and my dad."
Carter Lichtsinn (So. - Olathe, Kan./Olathe West) led the Blugolds with 24 points.
Carter Huschka (Sr. - Farmington, Minn.) had one of the best games of his career, scoring 21 points and pulling down 17 rebounds to set a new career high on the glass.
Drew Maloney (Jr. - St. Charles, Minn.) had 18 points and five boards. Blair and
Michael Casper (Sr. - Merrill, Wis.) scored nine points apiece.
The Blugolds celebrated the victory by singing a final alma mater with the band and posed for photos on the court with fans afterward.
"It felt good. Almost brought a tear," Huschka said. "It felt good just seeing everyone there."
UW-Eau Claire will use the offseason to prepare to make its debut in the state-of-the-art Sonnentag Event Center next season. The Blugolds will move on from their longtime home to the new arena ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
"I'm very humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to coach here, and to do that on this floor in front of these fans is extremely special," Siverling said. "Although it's the end here, Blugold basketball is still going to continue and we're very excited about the new facility that's being built. We're really excited about making that transition."
