Gallatin, Tenn. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team dropped to 8-3 on the season with a 86-75 loss to Lynchburg College (Va.) Saturday night in the Music City Classic being played at Volunteer State Community College. The Hornets improve to 6-5 on the year.

The game was tied 14-14 with 10:55 remaining in the first half when Lynchburg (Va.) went on a 9-3 run to lead 23-17 with 8:15 left. UWL trailed 27-21 with 6:57 remaining when it used a 16-2 run to lead 37-29 with 2:40 left after a Wyatt Cook layup. Tanner Bruchs had nine points in the run for the Eagles. UWL led 37-33 at halftime.

UWL led by as many as seven points in the second half, including 48-41 with 13:41 left on a Sam Skoyen jumper. Lynchburg (Va.) trailed 57-51 with 10:35 remaining when it went on a 13-2 run to lead 64-59 with 6:01 left. The Hornets would never trail the rest of the game. UWL cut the deficit it to 66-64 with 5:20 left on a Taulvish McCray three-pointer, but a Connor Schroeder layup with 4:25 remaining gave Lynchburg (Va.) a 68-64 advantage. The Hornets went on a 14-3 run to lead 80-67 with :56 left.

UWL shot 37.3% from the field, including 34.4% (11-of-32) from three-point range, and 73.7% (14-of-19) at the free throw line. McCray led the Eagles with a career-high 20 points, finishing seven-of-13 from the field, including six-of-nine from three-point range. Bruchs finished with 14 points and seven rebounds while Brendon Manning had 12 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.

Lynchburg (Va.) shot 45.5% from the field, including 35.0% (seven-of-20) from three-point range, and 80.6% (29-of-36) at the line. Schroeder led four players in double figures with 20 points. Chance Greene finished with 18 points while Jesse Case totaled 13 and Devante' Young 10.

UWL returns to action Wednesday, January 3 at UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m. in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener.