UW-Eau Claire 72, UW-La Crosse 51

La Crosse, Wis. - The UW-La Crosse men's basketball team fell 72-51 to UW-Eau Claire Saturday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles drop to 13-5 overall and 5-4 in the WIAC while the Blugolds improve to 11-6 overall and 4-5 in the conference.

UW-L, receiving votes on this week's D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll, took a 12-11 lead with 14:10 left in the first half on Tony Mane's three-point play, but UW-Eau Claire went on a 27-6 run to end the half to take a 38-18 lead. The Eagles went scoreless for a stretch of 7:06 from 14:10 to 7:04 before Al Chery scored on a layup. UW-L missed seven straight shots from the field and all four of its free throws in its scoreless drought.

UW-Eau Claire shot 50.0% (15-of-30) in the first half to take its 20-point halftime lead. The Blugolds also outrebounded the Eagles, 25-9, in the first half.

UW-L could get no closer than 18 points in the second half at 44-26 with 16:10 remaining. UW-Eau Claire led by as many as 29 points in the second half. 

Mane led UW-L with 14 points while Jeff Heiden finished with eight and Andrew Haass seven. Mane and Heiden tied for the team lead with four rebounds.

The Eagles shot 41.7% from the field, including 38.5% (five-of-13) from three-point range, and 50.0% (six-of-12) at the free throw line.

Geoff Probst led UW-Eau Claire with 14 points and seven rebounds while Amadou Fofana finished with 12 points. Josh Prince had 10 points and six rebounds. The Blugolds shot 49.1% from the field for the game, including 33.3% (six-of-18) from three-point range. The team shot 76.9% (10-of-13) at the line. The Blugolds outrebounded the Eagles, 40-20.

UW-L returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 27 hosting UW-Stout at 7:05 p.m.