Salem, Ore. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team, ranked 15th on this week's D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll, improved to 8-0 on the season with a 89-60 victory at Willamette University (Ore.) Friday afternoon in Cone Field House. The Bearcats drop to 1-7 on the season.
It is UWL's first 8-0 start since 1996-97.
In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, UWL raced out to an 16-5 lead with 13:18 left after back-to-back jumpers from Seth Anderson. Anderson's third straight jumper gave the Eagles a 18-8 advantage with 12:44 remaining. Willamette (Ore.) cut the lead to 18-10 on a Joshua Stubbs jumper, but UWL used a 16-0 run to take a 34-10 lead with 7:15 left as Henry Noone connected on three consecutive three-point field goals. The Bearcats cut it to 36-22 with a 12-2 run of their own, but Ethan Anderson's three-pointer gave the Eagles a 39-22 lead.
Willamette (Ore.)'s Jonathan Watts scored four consecutive points to later cut the lead to 43-31 with :56 remaining, but Seth Anderson hit a pair of free throws and a jumper to give UWL a 47-31 halftime advantage.
Wyatt Cook had nine points and nine rebounds Friday.
UWL shot 52.9% from the field in the first half, including 46.7% (seven-of-15) from three-point range, and 66.7% (four-of-six) at the line. Seth Anderson led the Eagles with 10 points while Noone had nine. Ethan Anderson finished the first half with eight points. Wyatt Cook and six rebounds and Luke Norcia four assists. Seven different players scored in the first half.
Willamette (Ore.) shot 45.5% from the field in the first 20 minutes, including 42.9% (three-of-seven) from three-point range, and 72.7% (eight-of-11) at the line. Watts led the Wildcats with eight points. Justus Eaglesmith and Ben Sutton added five points each.
UWL started the second half on an 11-2 run to lead 58-33 after a Sam Burkart layup. Willamette (Ore.) could get no closer than 18 points the rest of the game.
UWL shot 54.2% from the field, including 50.0% (12-of-24) from three-point range, and 65.0% (13-of-20) at the line. Seth Anderson and Ethan Anderson led the Eagles with 16 points each. Terek Nesheim finished with 14 points and five rebounds while Cook totaled nine points, nine rebounds and four assists. Norcia finished with a team-high eight assists while also adding six points and four rebounds. Eleven different players scored for UWL.
Willamette (Ore.) shot 36.8% from the field, including 25.0% (five-of-20) from three-point range, and 81.3% (13-of-16) at the line. Watts led the Bearcats with 13 points while Whicker finished with 12. Sutton and Cade Whicker each had a team-high six rebounds.
UWL returns to action Saturday, December 21 at George Fox University (Ore.) at 5 p.m. (CT).
