The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team, ranked sixth in Division III, defeated UW-Eau Claire Saturday, January 31, 79-60, in an afternoon game at the McPhee Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

box score

Whitewater led 12-9 at 11:53 and then took control of the game with an 11-0, including a pair of baskets by center Dustin Mitchell (Lac Du Flambeau/Lakeland), run to go up 23-9 at the 9:51 mark of the first half.  UW-W took a 38-29 lead in to the lockerrooms at halftime.

With the Warhawks leading 44-36 at 17:10, UW-W used another run, this time 8-0, to go up 52-36 with 14:14 and Whitewater's lead never fell under double digits the rest of the way. 

The Warhawks shot 52% from the field, while limiting the Blugolds to 38%.  More than half of the final margin was compiled at the free throw line, where UW-W was 15-18 and UW-EC went just 4-5.  Whitewater also dominated the boards, 40-29.  Eau Claire hung in the game with their three point shooting, hitting 10-20 (50%), as Whitewater went 4-14 (29%).

UW-W senior guard Myles McKay (Menomonee Falls/Menomonee Falls) led all scorers with 18, with fellow guard Matt Goodwin (Milwaukee/King) adding 15.  Senior forward Kori Vernon (Madison/Memorial) recorded a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. 

Eau Claire was led by 17 points from Ryan Shea and a game-high four steals.  Geoff Probst contributed ten points and led UW-EC with seven rebounds, and Dan Beyer chipped in with ten points.  Colin Boone was the game leader with five assists, with just one turnover.

UW-W is 17-3 overall and 9-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  UW-EC is 11-8 and 5-6.  Whitewater will host UW-Stout Saturday, January 31 at 1:00 in the Kachel Gym of Williams Center.  Call 262-472-2222 for ticket information.

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach