#4 UW-Whitewater 72, UW-La Crosse 62

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team fell 72-62 to fourth-ranked UW-Whitewater Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall.  The Eagles drop to 13-7 overall and 5-6 in the WIAC while the Warhawks improve to 19-2 overall and 10-2 in the conference.

The game was tied 9-9 with 15:07 remaining in the first half when UW-L went on a 9-0 run to lead 18-9.  UW-Whitewater then used a 10-0 run to lead 19-18 with 11:47 left.  The contest was tied eight times in the first half and ended in a 33-33 tie.

The Warhawks, ranked fourth on this week's D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll, opened the second half on a 14-2 run to lead 47-35 with 12:25 remaining.  The Eagles missed 11 of their first 12 shots from the field in the second half, but came back to cut the lead to 49-45 with 9:50 left after an Al Chery jumper.  UW-Whitewater scored the next six points to lead 55-45.

UW-L trailed 62-54 with 5:39 left and cut the lead to 62-58 on a Logan Ellman layup and a pair of Cory Degner free throws, but the Eagles missed their next four shots from the field and went one-of-four at the free throw line.  UW-Whitewater went six-of-six at the line in the final :35.

Degner led UW-L with 17 points, six rebounds and four steals while Derek Braucht finished with 15 points, five rebounds and two assists.  Lucas Morrissey added eight points and five rebounds while Luke Tweed and Chery had seven points.

The Eagles shot 38.3% from the field, including 21.7% (five-of-23) from three-point range, and 57.9% (11-of-19) at the line.

Chris Davis led UW-Whitewater with 27 points and 12 rebounds while Luke Knoble had 10 points and six rebounds.  Alex Merg and Eric Bryson each finished with nine points and six rebounds while Quadrell Young had nine points.

The Warhawks shot 48.9% from the field, including 30.8% (four-of-13) from three-point range, and 88.9% (24-of-27) at the line.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, February 4 at 13th-ranked UW-Stevens Point at 5 p.m.