Blugolds Go The Extra Length For Win Over La Crosse

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Posted: Saturday, January 29, 2005

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team reversed their overtime fortunes of earlier in the week in defeating UW-La Crosse 77-69 in overtime here tonight at Zorn Arena.

The Blugolds snapped a four-game losing streak with the win improving to 5-6 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 11-8 overall.

Eau Claire held a 52-42 lead following a Casey Drake (Sr.-Rhinelander) free throw with 12:23 left in regulation. The Eagles stormed back getting two three-pointers in the final 26 seconds from Chris Fehrenbach to force overtime. The second three-pointer came with seven seconds left to tie the score at 65. Buck Smith's (Jr.-Superior) lay-up as time expired rolled out.

The Blugolds owned the overtime holding La Crosse to only one basket in two free throws. Will Jefferson (Sr.-Wausau/East) hit a three with time winding down on the shot clock and fed Smith for two easy lay-ups. Dan Archambault (Sr.-Oshkosh/West) his 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Drake led all scorers with 22 points on 8 of 14 from the floor. Archambault added 21 and Smith 18 while combining to shoot 17 of 19 from the charity stripe. Jefferson added 12 points and team-high three assists. Smith led Eau Claire with 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the year.

Eau Claire shot 44.6 percent from the field while the Eagles shot 42.4 percent. The Blugolds had a big advantage from the free throw line hitting 23 of 25 attempts while La Crosse hit only 11 of 14.

The first half went back and forth with neither team holding a lead greater than five. A Drake leaner as time expired in the first half sent Eau Claire into half leading 34-32. Archambault led all scorers in the first half with 13.

The Blugolds will be in action next when they host Wisconsin Lutheran Monday as part of Youth Night. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Eau Claire-La Crosse Box Score