The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team pulled away late in a close game against UW-Eau Claire on the road. Neither team had a lead of more than five until the Warhawks closed out the game on a 14-5 run.

To start the game, the lid was wide open on the basket, with the first six shots of the game going in. UW-Eau Claire was the first to miss, but an offensive rebound gave them the points on their end anyways.

The Warhawks made their first six attempts of the game, with their first miss coming five minutes into the game with a 13-10 lead. The Warhawks would take a breif 17-12 lead, their largest of the first half with exactly 13-minutes to go, but UW-Eau Claire was able to close the gap, eventually taking the lead for themselves.

The lead didn't stay more than a possession apart for the rest of the half, with the Blugolds taking a 37-15 lead into the locker room. UW-Eau Claire made 50% of their shots in the first half, going 15-for-30. The Warhawks had a 45% field goal after 20-minutes, but made four of their threes compared to UWEC.

To start the second half, it was UW-Eau Claire who jumped out to a five point lead at 46-41, but the Warhawks didn't allow it to grow more, climbing back and eventually taking the lead with a Luke Bara (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) three-pointer with just under 14-minutes to go.

Despite the Blugolds tying the game a few times, the Warhawks never allowed the lead to fall back in the hands of the home team. With five-minutes to go, Bara and Collin Madson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) hit back-to-back threes to give the Warhawks another five-point lead as time was dwindling down.

The Warhawks held UWEC without a basket in for a four minute stretch to close the game. A 10-2 run from the Warhawks, and only free throws from the Blugolds gave the Warhawks an 11-point lead with just 22 seconds left. 

The Blugolds hit a late three pointer, but UW-Whitewater had built up the lead for the regular season sweep over UW-Eau Claire.

Collin Madson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) led the Warhawks with a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double. Madson scored seven of the Warhawks 10 final points as they pulled away late. Luke Bara (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) finished with 15 points and four rebounds.

Isaac Verges (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and a team-high three assists. 

UW-Whitewater went 26-for-56 from the floor, including 8-for-212 from behind the arc in the win. The Blugolds had the slight advantage on the glass, outrebounding UWW 38-34.

The Warhawks enter the last week of the regular season against UW-Stevens Point on the road in a crucial WIAC match. Tip off is set for 7 PM on Wednesday, February 18th.