Grand Rapids, Mich. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team improved to 3-1 on the season with a 99-75 win over Marietta College (Ohio) Friday afternoon at Van Noord Arena at Calvin University. The Pioneers drop to 3-1 on the year.
 
The game is part of the Great Lakes Invitational, featuring eight games over two days. 

 
Marietta (Ohio) took its largest lead of the game at 19-12 with 13:08 remaining in the first half on Landry Palata's three-point play. UWL responded with an 8-0 run to take a 20-19 advantage on a Karter Thomas three-point field goal with 12:02 left. After Palata's jumper gave the Pioneers a 21-20 lead, the Eagles scored six straight points for a 26-21 lead.
 
Jayden Bradshaw's three-pointer for Marietta (Ohio) cut the deficit to 26-24, but the Pioneers would get no closer the rest of the game. UWL went on a 14-1 run to lead 40-25 with 6:09 remaining in the first half after a Thomas three-pointer.
 
The Eagles took their largest lead of the first half with :31 left on a Dustin Derousseau dunk to make it 56-33 at halftime.
 
De'Ovion Price's layup to open the second half cut the lead to 56-35, but a Mack Sebert layup, Will Fuhrmann three-pointer and Torin Hannah layup extended UWL's lead to 63-35.

 

UWL took its largest lead at 79-47 with 10:53 left on Sam Grieger's free throw. 
 
UWL, receiving votes on the D3hoops.com Top-25 Preseason Poll, shot 56.1% from the field for the game, including 50.0% (15-of-30) from three-point range, and 74.1% (20-of-27) at the free throw line. The 56.1% shooting from the field is the team's best since shooting 58.1% (36-of-62) in a 95-60 victory over Bethel University (Minn.) on January 29, 2022. The Eagles' 50.0% shooting from three-point range is their best showing since finishing at 57.1% (12-of-21) in a 79-61 win at UW-Stevens Point on February 3, 2024.
 
Derousseau led five players in double figures with 20 points. Thomas finished with 19 points while Grieger had 16. Fuhrmann and Hannah each scored 12 points. Derousseau, Thomas, Fuhrmann and Hannah each made 3 three-pointers in the contest.
 

JJ Paider led UWL with eight rebounds and nine assists while scoring eight points.
 
Marietta (Ohio) shot 43.9% from the field, including 43.3% (13-of-30) from three-point range, and 80.0% (four-of-five) at the line. Bradshaw led the Pioneers with 28 points while Frank Waganfeald finished with 15 points and team-high seven rebounds. Price added seven points and nine assists.
 
UWL returns to action Saturday, November 23 facing Johns Hopkins University (Md.) at 2 p.m. (Central) in the Great Lakes Invitational.
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