WAVERLY, Iowa — UW-Eau Claire defeated Cornell College 89-55 in a non-conference matchup at Levick Arena, part of the Buzz Levick Tournament hosted by Wartburg College. The Blugolds dominated with a collective effort, recording 53 points off the bench and controlling the paint with 44 points. They out-rebounded the Rams 46-26, which contributed significantly to their victory. Despite a strong free-throw shooting performance from Cornell College, UW-Eau Claire's 13 three-pointers and 26 assists facilitated the decisive win.
Eau Claire opened the game with a 3-pointer from
Andre Renta, assisted by
Kenji Scales, setting an early tone.
Xavier Lewis played a pivotal role in the visitors' first-half performance, contributing to the paint with multiple baskets and rebounds. By the 16:00 mark, the Rams had narrowed the gap to 7-6 with a fast-break layup, prompting a UWEC timeout. However, the Blugolds extended their lead with consistent scoring from the perimeter, including two 3-pointers by
Joey Butz and
Kenji Scales. The Rams managed to close the half with a late 3-pointer, but UWEC maintained a 41-26 advantage at the break.
The Blugolds dominated the second half against the Rams, with a strong offensive performance by
Tyler Haney, who sank multiple 3-pointers, including a crucial one at the 9:55 mark.
Kenji Scales contributed significantly with key layups and assists, while
Luke Reder's layup and free throw extended the lead to 76-47 with 6:28 remaining. The Blugolds maintained control throughout, outscoring the home team 48-29 in the half, securing the 89-55 victory to advance to the tournament championship game.
Joey Butz led UW-Eau Claire with 15 points, converting 5 of 8 from beyond the arc and grabbing five rebounds.
Xavier Lewis scored 10 points and collected eight rebounds, showing efficiency with 5 of 7 shooting from the field.
Tyler Haney added 11 points, making three 3-pointers and contributing three assists.
Carter Lichtsinn finished with eight points, shooting 4 of 7, and recorded one steal.
UWEC holds a 3-0 record this season while the Rams are now 0-2 overall.
In their next game, the Blugolds will face off against Concordia University (Wis.) in the tournament championship on Saturday, Nov. 15. The matchup is set for 4 p.m. at Levik Arena in Wartburg, Iowa.
Follow UW-Eau Claire all season long at Blugolds.com or on our app, Blugold Sports, and on social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
