Virginia Beach, Va. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team, ranked 15th on the D3hoops.com Top-25 Preseason Poll, opened its 2021-22 season with a 73-50 victory over Methodist University (N.C.) Friday afternoon in the TowneBank Tipoff Tournament at Virginia Wesleyan University. Methodist (N.C.) was also playing its season-opener. 

With the win, UWL advances to face host Virginia Wesleyan in the tournament championship game Saturday, November 6 at 2 p.m. (Central). 

Methodist (N.C.) scored the first points of the game on a Kevin McLaughlin Jr. layup, but UWL scored the next six points and would never trail the rest of the game. The Eagles took a 18-4 lead on back-to-back jumpers from Austin Westra.  UWL took its largest lead of the first half at 29-9 with 5:38 remaining after a Tanner Resch free throw. Methodist (N.C.) cut it to 32-20, but a three-pointer from Henry Noone and jumper from Westra gave UWL a 37-20 halftime advantage. 

The Eagles shot 53.6% (15-of-28) from the field in the first half. 

The Monarchs could get no closer than 14 points in the second half with the Eagles leading by as many as 24. 

UWL shot 46.0% from the field, including 42.9% (nine-of-21) from three-point range, and 50.0% (six-of-12) at the free throw line. Ethan Anderson led the Eagles with 18 points while Westra finished with 13 and Noone 12.  Sean Suchomel, Seth Anderson and Will Fuhrmann each had six rebounds. Ethan Anderson and Wyatt Cook each had five assists. All 20 players saw action for UWL. 

The Eagles had 22 assists on their 29 field goals while outrebounding the Monarchs, 37-26. 

Methodist (N.C.) shot 34.7% from the field, missing all 14 of its three-point attempts. The Monarchs shot 80.0% (16-of-20) at the line. Dante Burden led Methodist (N.C.) with 21 points while J'Quan Deal added 10. James Wilds III led the team with five rebounds.