The No. 10 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit in the first half and held a lead early in the second, but was unable to hang on in a 69-65 setback against UW-Eau Claire in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (11-2 overall, 0-2 WIAC) held a 44-36 advantage with 14:36 left in the contest after starting the second half on a 9-1 run.
 
From there, the Blugolds (9-4, 2-0) chipped away at their deficit, tying the game at 52-52 with 7:39 remaining.
 
The game was tied again at 61-61 with 3:24 on the clock after a pair of free throws by senior guard David Sachs (Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park). UW-Eau Claire hit a 3-pointer on the next possession, and never relinquished the lead from there.
 
Senior forward Derek Rongstad (Middleton, Wis./Middleton) brought UW-Whitewater within one possession on two separate occasions over the final 2:19, but the Blugolds hit their final four free throws of the game as the Warhawks were unable to convert at the other end.
 
Sachs finished with a team-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Pfeifer registered 14 points and five rebounds, and senior guard Dalton Menke (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago) collected 10 points and five rebounds.
 
UW-Whitewater shot 46.4 percent from the floor in the contest, while UW-Eau Claire hit 51 percent from the floor and 50 percent (11-of-22) from 3-point range.
 
In the first half, the Blugolds hit 6-of-12 from 3-point range to dominate the first 15 minutes of action, taking a 32-18 advantage at the 6:08 mark of the period.
 
The Warhawks turned the tide over the final five minutes, concluding the half on a 17-3 run capped by a jumper from Sachs in the waning moments to tie the game at 35-35.
 
UW-Whitewater continued its momentum into the second half before UW-Eau Claire made its run.
 
The Warhawks host UW-Stout Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium.