Box Score La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team earned a 74-67 victory over UW-Stout Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall.  The Eagles, winners of 10 of their last 12 games, improve to 13-7 overall and 7-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Blue Devils fall to 4-15 overall and 0-9 in the conference.  With UWL's win and UW-Eau Claire's 78-56 victory at UW-River Falls, UWL takes over sole possession of first-place in the WIAC.

The first half featured six lead changes. UWL took a 13-12 lead with 8:33 left in the opening half on a Jared Staege jumper, but UW-Stout scored the next six points to lead 19-13.  The Blue Devils took their largest lead of the game at 28-20 with :13 left on a John Keefe three-pointer, but Kenny Finco's layup with :01 remaining cut the lead to 28-22 at halftime. 

UWL opened the second half on a 24-5 run as it connected on eight of its first nine shots from the field. Devin Yurk scored 12 of the Eagles' first 20 points of the second half as UWL made five of its first six shots from three-point range.  The Eagles took their largest lead of the game at 50-35 with 11:58 left on a Staege layup and the Blue Devils could get no closer than seven points at 72-65 with :30 remaining.

UWL shot 44.6% from the field, including 68.0% (17-of-25) in the second half.  The Eagles shot 31.8% (seven-of-22) from three-point range, including 60.0% (six-of-10) in the second half.  UWL shot 73.9% (17-of-23) at the line for the game. 

Yurk led four players in double figures for the Eagles with 20 points (17 in second half), finishing four-of-eight from three-point range.  He also had six rebounds.  Staege recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds while also finishing with a game-high six assists.  Ben Meinholz finished with 12 points Wednesday while Sean Wheeler added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.  UWL had 17 assists on its 25 made field goals. 

UW-Stout shot 35.5% from the field, including 31.8% (seven-of-22) from three-point range, and 72.7% (16-of-22) at the line.  Keefe led three players in double figures for the Blue Devils with 16 points while Isaac Elliott finished with 13 points and Jalen Patterson 10. 

UWL returns to action Saturday, February 6 at UW-Whitewater at 7 p.m.