Box Score La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team kept its perfect start to the 2022-23 season going with an 84-77 win over UW-Eau Claire Saturday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles, ranked fourth on D3hoops.com, improve to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play while the Blugolds fall to 5-3 on the year and 1-1 in conference action.
Austin Westra finished 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
UWL took an early 5-2 lead on a three-pointer by
Ethan Anderson and two free throws from
Austin Westra. UW-Eau Claire then went on a 16-2 run to lead 18-7 with 13:19 left in the opening period. The Eagles cut their first half deficit to 20-14 (10:41) on a three-pointer by
Henry Noone; however, the Blugolds scored 16 of the next 20 points to take its largest lead of the game at 36-20 with 5:18 remaining. The Eagles trailed 39-35 at intermission after ending the half with a 15-3 run.
Craig Steele got the scoring started in the second half for the Eagles with a three-pointer as UWL opened with a 20-5 run to lead 55-44 with 14:11 left in the game. Steele scored eight points to spark the run for the Eagles. The Blugolds responded with a run of their own as they pulled to within 60-58 as they outscored the Eagles 14-5. Steel would hit three straight free throws followed by an Anderson three-pointer as the Eagles quickly took a 72-60 lead with 6:40 remaining. The Blugolds would not get any closer than five (82-77) with :31 left as Anderson and
Will Fuhrmann each went one-of-two from the free throw line to seal the win.
UWL finished 27of-50 (54.0%) from the floor, including eight-of-17 (47.1%) from the free throw line. UWL was 22-of-29 (75.9%) at the free throw line. Anderson led the Eagles with a season-high 29 points, shooting 10-of-13 from the floor and five-of-six at the free throw line. Westra (20 points) and Steele (16) joined Anderson in double figures for the Eagles. Westra added a team high seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Craig Steele finished with 16 points.
UW-Eau Claire finished shooting 28-for-56 (50%) from the floor, including 12-of-26 (46.2%) from behind the three-point line. The Blugolds were nine-of-12 (75%) at the line. Brock Voigt led the Blugolds with 22 points while Michael Casper added 20.
UWL returns to action Wednesday, December 7 when it travels to Decorah, Iowa to take on Luther College at 7:30 p.m.
