UW-Whitewater defeated UW-La Crosse 73-60 in Kachel Gym in Williams Center in Whitewater, Wisconsin Wednesday night in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

box score
photo gallery (courtesy of Tim Gumz) ... photos for sale on-line

The first twelve minutes of the game the game whip-sawed back and forth, changing hands seven times.  With the score 22-22 at the 8:09 mark, that pattern altered (but only in the frequency of the changes), with UW-W making an 8-1 run that put the Warhawks ahead 30-23.  That wouldn't last however, with the Eagles coming back to take a 36-35 lead on a Tony Mane layup with 1:06 left in the half.  Chris Davis (Madison/East) put in a layup with 0:44 left to give Whitewater the halftime lead, 37-36.

The Warhawks shot 59% from the floor in the first twenty minutes, La Crosse 42%.  La Crosse scored only two points on free throws (2-6), Whitewater was shut out at the stripe (0-0).

The game reverted back to careening back and forth, the teams tied for the thirteenth time at 51-51 at the 12:24 mark.  That was on the first of two free throws by Al Cherry, and Cherry's second gave the Eagles their last lead of the game, 54-53. 

UW-W never broke the game open, with the score staying in single digits until the final minute of the game.  The final score was the largest margin of the contest.

Whitewater continued to shoot well, winding up at 54% for the game, while the Eagles struggled to find the basket in the second half, hitting just 26% of their shots from the floor.  UW-W also hit 9-10 free throws in the final twenty minutes, while La Crosse converted 8-9. 

Davis, UW-W's center, was the game's leading scorer, 24 points, and rebounder, 10 boards.  Guard Antone Byrd (Milwaukee/Washington) scored 19 points and handed out a game high six assists.  Byrd went 8-12 from the field and 2-2 from the line.  Forward Alex Edmunds (Cedarburg/Cedarburg) contributed 16 points, making all six of his field goal attempts.

The UW-L backcourt of Tony Mane, 15 points, and Cory Degner, 12, were joined by Cherry, a forward who scored 14 points and grabbed six boards,  in double digit scoring.  However, Mane (6-23), Degner (4-11) and Cherry (5-13) epitomized the Eagles shooting woes. 

UW-W, 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the WIAC, will play at UW-Stout Saturday at 4:00.  UW-L is 3-5 overall and 0-1 in league play.

Pat Miller's post game interview

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach