EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team snapped its six-game winless streak by defeating UW-River Falls 83-73 on Wednesday at Zorn Arena. Five players scored in double figures and the Blugolds dominated the glass to pick up their second Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) victory of the season.
Carter Huschka (Sr. - Farmington, Minn.) turned in one of the best performances of his career to help power UW-Eau Claire (9-13, 2-9). The forward led the Blugolds in scoring with 19 points, and also set a new career high with 15 rebounds. His 15 boards are the most by a Blugold this season and are the second-best total by a WIAC player this winter.
Drew Maloney (Jr. - St. Charles, Minn.) had 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for the Blugolds.
Michael Casper (Sr. - Merrill, Wis.) had 12 points,
Carter Lichtsinn (So. - Olathe, Kan./Olathe West) scored 11 and
Caiden Lecce (So. - Kenosha, Wis./St. Joseph Catholic) added 10 points.
UW-Eau Claire out-rebounded the Falcons (12-10, 6-5) by a 43-33 margin, powered by dominant showings on the glass by Huschka, Maloney and
Cade Hall (Sr. - Mauston, Wis.). Hall had five rebounds.
It helped turn the tide in a close contest. The Blugolds opened the game on a 7-0 run, but the two sides went back and forth all night. After the slow start, the Falcons eventually rallied and tied the game at 18 midway through the first half. Huschka and Lichtsinn hit 3-pointers as part of a 10-4 spurt later in the first half that saw UW-Eau Claire go ahead 32-22 with about six minutes until the break. UW-River Falls whittled the lead down to two at one point down the stretch, but the Blugolds led 42-34 at halftime thanks to another 10-4 run to close the period.
UW-River Falls kept it a one-possession game for much of the second half, finding answers any time the Blugolds threatened to pull away. UW-Eau Claire finally found its haymaker when the clock ticked past 10 minutes left in regulation. Casper hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start an 8-0 run that saw the Blugolds' lead grow from 52-50 to 60-52 in a span of two minutes. The Falcons never recovered, as the Blugolds hit the shots they needed to down the stretch to keep their opponent at arm's length and close out the victory.
The Blugolds went 16 of 18 at the free throw line, which played an important role at the end of regulation. They hit six shots from the charity stripe in the final minute.
UW-Eau Claire shot 48% in the victory. Hall finished with seven points and
Nolan Blair (Sr. - Stevens Point, Wis.) added six.
The Blugolds will look to build momentum when they host UW-Stout in a rivalry battle on Saturday, February 10. The men's War on 94 will tip-off at approximately 6 p.m., following the conclusion of the women's game that begins at 4 p.m. at Zorn Arena.
