Box Score Dubuque, Iowa - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team earned a 77-72 victory at Loras College (Iowa) Monday night in the Athletic & Wellness Center.  The Eagles improve to 3-3 on the season in earning their first road victory of the season while the Duhawks fall to 3-3 on the year.  Loras (Iowa) suffered its first home loss (2-1) of the season.

In the first meeting between the team since the 2007-08 season, UWL evened the all-time series at 18-18 with Monday's win.  The Eagles led 6-5 with 15:06 left in the first half when they used a 7-0 run to lead 12-5 on a Devin Yurk three-pointer.   The Duhawks cut the lead to 12-7, but could not get any closer the rest of the game.  UWL went on an 14-4 run to take a 26-11 advantage with 7:15 remaining after a Ryan Kruser jumper.  The Eagles went five-of-seven from the field in their run while the Duhawks went one-of-six. 

After Justin VanWambeke's layup cut the lead to 26-13 for Loras (Iowa), UWL scored the next eight points to lead 34-13 with 3:32 left in the first half.  Ben Meinholz scored five points in the run.  The Eagles led by as many as 27 points before the Duhawks cut the halftime lead to 43-20.

UWL led 46-24 with 18:37 remaining in the game on a Yurk three-point field goal, but Loras (Iowa) went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 46-35 with 14:38 left.  The Eagles responded scoring 10 of the next 11 points to lead 56-36 with 11:09 remaining.

The Eagles led 60-42 with 7:33 left before the Duhawks cut the margin to 60-50 with 5:58 remaining.  UWL used an 11-4 run to lead 71-54 with 3:15 left, but Loras (Iowa) cut the lead to 72-63 on a pair of Demond George free throws.  After Clint Rihn hit two free throws with 1:33 left to give the Eagles a 74-63 lead, VanWambeke's three-pointer and a layup from George cut it to 74-68 with 1:16 remaining.  Kruser hit one-of-two at the line with :54 remaining and Ryan DiCanio's jumper for Loras (Iowa) made it 75-70 with :49 left.  Kruser connected for a pair of free throws with :36 left and VanWambeke's layup for Loras (Iowa) cut the lead to 77-72 with :29. 

After missing two free throws with :14 remaining, UWL held on for the victory as Loras (Iowa) missed a three-point attempt with :07 left.

UWL shot 46.2% from the field, including 55.2% (16-of-29) in the first half.  The Eagles shot 50.0% (13-of-26) from three-point range in the game, including 61.5% (eight-of-13) in the first half.  UWL shot 69.6% (16-of-23) at the line.

Yurk led the Eagles with a career-high 24 points, going seven-of-12 from three-point range, including six-of-eight from three-point range, and four-of-eight at the line.  Jared Staege finished with 13 points and team-high seven rebounds while Kruser and Meinholz each had 10 points.  Meinholz added six rebounds and game-high six assists.

Loras (Iowa) shot 35.8% from the field, including 20.8% (five-of-24) from three-point range, and 70.4% (19-of-27) at the free throw line.  VanWambeke totaled 23 points while George finished with 16 points and DeCanio 15.

UWL returns to action Friday, December 4 at Coe College (Iowa) at 7 p.m.