La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team used a pair of long scoring runs in the first half in earning a 94-62 victory over UW-Stout Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles, receiving votes on D3hoops.com, improve to 17-5 overall and 6-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Blue Devils drop to 5-17 overall and 1-10 in the conference.
It is UWL's 12th win in the last 13 meetings with UW-Stout.
Terek Nesheim had 11 points and three assists.
The Blue Devils scored the first points of the game on a TYreese Alexander jumper, but the Eagles went on a 15-0 run. UWL went six-of-nine from the field in the run while UW-Stout missed nine straight shots from the field after Alexander's basket to start the game.
The Blue Devils cut the deficit to 16-7 with 12:20 left in the first half but the Eagles used a 19-0 run to take a 35-7 advantage with 8:09 remaining on
Terek Nesheim's layup. UWL took its largest lead of the first half at 51-17 with 1:35 left after
Dylan Bunders' layup. The Eagles led, 51-22, at halftime.
UW-Stout cut the lead to 51-27, but could get no closer as UWL went on a 12-1 run to lead 63-28 after
Ethan Anderson connected on three free throws with 13:23 remaining. The Eagles led by as many as 37 points in the second half.
UWL shot 59.7% from the field, including 55.0% (11-of-20) from three-point range, and 64.3% (nine-of-14) at the free throw line. The Eagles shot 63.6% (21-of-33) from the field in the first half and 55.2% (16-of-29) in the second 20 minutes.
Luke Norcia led four players in double figures with 14 points while also leading UWL with four assists and three steals. Anderson and
Zion Turner each finished with 12 points while Nesheim totaled 11.
Sam Burkart had eight points.
Twelve different players scored for the Eagles. UWL outrebounded UW-Stout, 40-26, as five different players recorded at least four rebounds.
Zac Haese had nine points and team-high seven rebounds.
Sam Burkart and
Seth Anderson each had eight points while
Wyatt Cook and
Joey Platz each had six.
UWL's bench scored 42 points. The Eagles had 40 points in the paint on Wednesday and 25 off Blue Devils' turnovers.
The Eagles totaled 20 assists in the game.
UW-Stout shot 37.5% from the field, including 35.7% (five-of-14) from three-point range, and 75.0% (15-of-20) at the line. Alexander led the Blue Devils with 12 points while Luke Geiger had 10.
UWL returns to action Saturday, February 15 at UW-Stevens Point at 3 p.m.
