La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team used a late run to help lead them past Wartburg College (Iowa), 86-77, Sunday afternoon in Mitchell Hall. The win moves UWL to 5-3 on the season while Wartburg (Iowa) falls to 5-4 overall.
Trailing 62-59 with 7:38 remaining in the game, the Eagles went on a 21-7 run to take their largest lead of the game at 80-69 with 2:51 left.
Ben Meinholz scored 10 of his game-high 20 points to spark the run for UWL.
Tanner Bruchs also hit two key three-pointers during the run. The Knights would cut their deficit to five at 82-77 on a three-pointer by Spencer Touro with 1:33 left on the clock. The Eagles would then hit four of six free throws to seal the victory as their defense did not give up another point.
Ben Meinholz scored a game-high 20 points Sunday afternoon.
The first half was a back and forth affair as there were 11 lead changes and three ties. Neither team took a lead of larger than four in the opening period. Trailing 28-27, UWL scored seven of the next 10 points to take its largest lead of the opening period at 34-30 with 1:51 on the clock. Bruchs hit back-to-back shots including a three-pointer to give the Eagles the four point lead. Touro would hit a three-pointer with 0:45 remaining to cut Wartburg's (Iowa) deficit to 37-36. The score remained 37-36 at the half.
UWL finished 32-64 (50%) from the floor, including 11-25 (44.0%) from three-point range and 11-17 (64.7%) at the free throw line. The Eagles finished with four players in double figures including Meinholz (20 points), Bruchs (19 points),
Brendon Manning (14 points) and
Terek Nesheim (10 points).
Manning led the Eagles with a career-high 15 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and helped give UWL a 38-31 edge in total rebounds. Bruchs was a perfect six-of-six from the floor including, five-of-five from three-point range and two-of-two at the free throw line. Meinholz finished with game highs in assists (6) and blocks (4).
Wartburg (Iowa) also shot 50% from the floor (29-58), including seven-of-18 (38.9%) from the three-point line and 12-of-18 (66.7%)at the line. Jaran Sabus led the Knights with 18 points while Spencer Touro was a perfect five-of-five from the three-point line and finished with 17 points.
UWL will take a 13-day break from game action, returning Saturday, December 22 as it travels to Waukesha, Wis. to play Carroll University at 3 p.m.
