The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team started the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season with a loss after being edged 66-59 by UW-Eau Claire on Saturday night.
 
The Blugolds improve to 10-2 (1-0 WIAC) while the Warhawks drop to 5-7 (0-1 WIAC).
 
UW-W had a slow start to the first, with their second and third points coming on free throws by Equan Ards (Milwaukee, Wis./Hamilton) eight minutes into the half. A 3-pointer from Rocky Martinez (Waukesha, Wis./West) started the team's offensive momentum, followed by a layup from James Burks (Milwaukee, Wis./Riverside University HS) with 11 minutes left in the half.
 
Bailey Kale's (La Crosse, Wis./Central) jump shot at 8:19 put the Warhawks down by one. They took the first lead of the game after a good layup from Ards at just under the five-minute mark.
 
UW-W controlled the final few minutes, recording 11 points and preventing the Blugolds from taking back the lead. Kale registered five of those points and Ards found a dunk after grabbing a rebound at the other end of the court. UW-Whitewater went into the half with a 29-25 lead.
 
In the first five minutes of the second, UW-W found gaps in the defense to put layups into the net, and led by as many as 12 points. The Blugolds controlled the next few minutes to start chipping away at their deficit. They made it a two-point game after a layup with 9:13 left to play.
 
UW-Eau Claire tied up the game at 6:55, and took the lead with a 3-pointer about 30 seconds later. They continued to control, keeping the Warhawks just a few points behind in the final few minutes. 
 
A 3-pointer with under two minutest to play put UW-W down by six points, and the Warhawks were unable to erase the deficit.
 
Ards led the team with 15 points and seven rebounds. Jack Brahm (Bayside, Wis./Glendale Nicolet) grabbed six rebounds. Burks and Kale each tallied 11 points. Kale also added a team-high four assists to his stat line.
 
UW-Whitewater will be back on the road next week, visiting UW-Stevens Point Wednesday at 7 p.m.