Men’s hoops showing strides of progress

Blugolds go 1-1 at competitive weekend tournament

Submitted

Photo by UW-Eau Claire athletics

Submitted

Story by Spectator staff

Over the weekend, the UW-Eau Claire men’s basketball team traveled to Wheaton College (III.) for the Lee Pfund Classic and finished 1-1.

Saturday, the Blugolds defeated Olivet College 76-61 by controlling the ball for the majority of the first half as Eau Claire held a 15-point lead, 47-32, after 20 minutes of play.

In the second half, the Blugolds never let their lead dip below double digits and won the game 76-61.

Junior Kurtis Moody notched his highest point total of the young season with 22 points. Three other Eau Claire scores reached double digits as senior Lewis Mau and juniors Adam Hjelter and Tyson Kalien scored 11, 12, and 10 points.

The win proved to be a bounce back effort for the Blugolds as the night before Eau Claire fell to No. 9 Washington University (MO.), 72-61.

The Blugolds came within six points of Washington’s lead in the second half, but the Bears’ defense held Eau Claire to just 37 percent shooting from the field.

The 2-2 Blugolds will host Wartburg College (Iowa) at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Zorn Arena.