Box Score La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team opened its 2015-16 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) season with an 88-57 victory over UW-Platteville Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles improve to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the WIAC while the Pioneers drop to 6-6 overall and 0-1 in the conference. The 31-point margin of victory is the second-largest for UWL over UW-Platteville. The Eagles earned a 92-60 victory over the Pioneers in 2002.
UWL, winners of four straight overall, led 12-8 with 14:58 left in the first half when it went on a 18-3 run to lead 29-11 with 9:31 remaining. The Eagles made 11 of their first 14 shots from the field. UW-Platteville cut the margin to 29-14 with 9:11 left on a Cory Vaassen three-pointer, but UWL used a 15-2 run to lead 44-16. The Eagles led 47-22 at halftime.
UWL shot 62.1% (18-of-29) from the field in the first 20 minutes, including 60.0% (nine-of-15) from three-point range.
The Pioneers could get no closer than 24 points in the second half at 49-25 with 18:45 left after a Trey Sigel three-point field goal. The Eagles led by as many as 35 points in the second half.
UWL shot a season-high 57.1% (32-of-56) from the field, including 50.0% (11-of-22) from three-point range, and 92.9% (13-of-14) at the free throw line. The 50.0% shooting from three-point range tied a season-high. The Ealges had 16 assists and 11 steals.
Austin Fritz and
Jared Staege led five players in double figures with 19 points each Wednesday night. Fritz set a career-high with his 19 points, finishing seven-of-11 from the field and five-of-five at the line. Staege scored in double figures in his fourth straight contest, going six-of-nine from the field, including three-of-four from three-point range, and four-of-four at the line.
Ben Meinholz finished with 15 points Wednesday while
Devin Yurk had 12 and
Ryan Kruser tied his career-high with 11.
Brendon Manning had a game-high seven rebounds.
UW-Platteville shot 31.8% from the field, including 29.6% (eight-of-27) from three-point range, and 77.8% (seven-of-nine) at the line. Boston Johnson led the Pioneers with 16 points and six rebounds.
UWL returns to action Saturday, January 9 hosting UW-Eau Claire at 5 p.m.
