The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team remained unbeaten in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday with a 77-72 victory at UW-Eau Claire.
 
The Warhawks (11-4 overall, 4-0 WIAC) erased an eight-point deficit midway through the second half and took the lead for good with 33 seconds to play on a jumper by Derek Gray (Madison, Wis./La Follette).
 
UW-Whitewater committed a season-low three turnovers and forced the Blugolds (8-7, 1-3) into 17 miscues, and held a 21-5 advantage in points off turnovers as a result. UW-W also outscored UW-Eau Claire 12-0 in fast-break points.
 
Gray finished with 19 points, three rebounds and two steals, while Trevon Chislom (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) tallied 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go along with four rebounds. Drew Fisher (Oconomowoc, Wis./Oconomowoc) also scored in double figures with 12 points to go with a team-high five rebounds.
 
Jameer Barker (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's) and Carter Capstran (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) each collected nine points. Capstran added a team-best four assists.
 
The Warhawks held a six-point lead just under four minutes into the contest following a steal and layup by Jack Brahm (Bayside, Wis./Glendale Nicolet). The Blugolds stormed back with an 11-2 run to take a 14-11 advantage with 13:02 left in the first half.
 
UW-Whitewater then built up its largest lead of the period at 32-24 following a layup by Chislom with 4:34 remaining. UW-Eau Claire scored the last nine points of the half for a 40-36 halftime lead.
 
The Blugolds' lead grew to 59-51 by the 9:38 mark, but the Warhawks quickly erased the deficit with an 10-0 run for a 61-59 lead with 5:55 to play following a layup by Capstran.
 
Chislom gave UW-W a 70-66 advantage with 2:21 on the clock, but UWEC responded with a. 3-pointer at the other end to cut its deficit to one. Following a Warhawk timeout, Gray drove to the hoop for a layup and a 72-69 lead with 1:30 left.
 
The Blugolds tied the game on a 3-point play with just under a minute remaining, but Gray scored the next three points, and Barker converted a pair of free throws in the final second of regulation to seal UW-Whitewater's win.
 
The Warhawks host No. 2 UW-Platteville this Wednesday. Tipoff at Kachel Gymnasium is slated for 7 p.m.