STEVENS POINT, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team narrowly fell to UW-Stevens Point, 78-75, in a tense matchup at Quandt Fieldhouse on Saturday. Despite trailing by two at halftime, the Blugolds stayed competitive, led by a strong performance with 17 second chance points. UW-Stevens Point capitalized on points in the paint, tallying 54, compared to UWEC's 30, which proved decisive in the final minutes.
The game began with
Xavier Lewis scoring a layup just 18 seconds into play, assisted by
Andre Renta. UW-Stevens Point quickly responded with a three-pointer at the 19:16 mark. The teams exchanged leads frequently, with the score tying on several occasions. In the final minutes of the first half,
Kenji Scales added a layup and free throw to bring UW-Eau Claire ahead at 30-29, but a late layups helped Stevens Point secure a narrow 35-33 lead going into the second half. This marked a crucial moment for Scales, who would go on to record a season-high total of 16 points.
The half was marked by intense exchanges between UWEC and UWSP, as both teams fought to gain an edge.
Andre Renta began the half by converting all three free throw attempts to level the game at 36-36 early on. The Pointers responded with a series of layups, contributing to their narrow lead. The visitors kept pressing, with
Kenji Scales hitting a crucial 3-pointer at the 7:44 mark to close the gap. Despite a late surge from the Blugolds, including a 3-pointer by Renta with 48 seconds remaining, UW-Stevens Point maintained their lead, securing a 78-75 victory. Renta's performance was notable, scoring 17 points, surpassing his season average of 11.0.
Andre Renta scored 17 points and dished out seven assists, showcasing his ability to facilitate the game.
Carter Lichtsinn finished with an impressive 18 points and 13 rebounds, dominating the boards throughout the contest. This marked Lichtsinn's fourth double-double of the season, and his 13 total rebounds surpassed his season average of 8.91.
Kenji Scales contributed 16 points, including three successful shots from beyond the arc.
Xavier Lewis added to the rebounding effort with 11 boards and chipped in seven points.
The next challenge for UW-Eau Claire comes as they travel to face UW-Platteville on Friday, Jan. 7. The game is set for 7 p.m. at Bo Ryan Court in Platteville, Wisconsin.
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