La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team fell 75-61 to UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles drop to 11-11 overall and 3-8 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Blugolds improve to 11-11 overall and 3-8 in the conference. The teams split its regular-season meetings after UWL earned a 57-56 win January 3 at UW-Eau Claire. 

The game was tied 13-13 with 8:27 left in the first half when UWL used a 13-4 run to lead 26-17. The Blugolds cut the lead lead to 26-20, but the Eagles took a 31-20 advantage after a Taulvish McCray three-pointer and jumper. UWL led 31-22 at halftime.  

The Eagles led by as many as 11 points in the second half, including 36-25 with 18:33 remaining. UWL led 44-35 with 14:43 remaining when UW-Eau Claire used a 16-3 run to lead 51-47 with 9:47 remaining. UWL cut the lead to 56-54 with 8:08 remaining on a McCray jumper, but a Chris Duff layup and Dan Becken three-pointer gave UW-Eau Claire a 61-54 advantage. Tanner Bruchs later cut the deficit to 61-56 with 5:12 left when UW-Eau Claire used a 7-0 run to lead 68-56 after a George Diekelman three. The Eagles could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the game.

UWL shot 51.0% from the field, including 42.1% (eight-of-19) from three-point range, and 60.0% (three-of-five) at the line. McCray led the Eagles with 14 points while Milton Cummings, Ben Meinholz and Bruchs each had eight. 

UW-Eau Claire shot 53.6% from the field, including 67.7% (21-of-31) in the second half. The team shot 40.0% (six-of-15) from three-point range for the game and made all nine of its free throw attempts. Duff led the Blugolds with 19 points with Diekelman finishing with 16. 

UWL returns to action Saturday, February 10 at UW-Oshkosh at 5 p.m.