The Yellowjackets mens' basketball team traveled to UW-River Falls Wednesday to battle the Falcons, the final regular season meeting between the two teams as conference opponents. The Yellowjackets were in need of a big road victory to get them back into the playoff race. However, the Falcons have been playing good basketball this season and have had the Yellowjackets' number the past few seasons. Wednesday night the Falcons took the sting out of the Yellowjackets, winning the game 90-76 at the Karges Center.
 
The Yellowjackets biggest problem this season has been stopping the opposition. That, again, was the problem Wednesday. The Falcons put up 50 points in the first half on 65.6 percent shooting. The Yellowjackets managed only 39 points in the first half, but they were still within striking distance of the Falcons after 20 minutes of play.
 
Things didn't get better for the Yellowjackets in the second half, however. The Falcons still shot over 50 percent for the half (51.6 to be exact). While both teams have identical records, 8-11, the conference mark is what matters most. The win was the Falcons' sixth victory in conference. The loss marked the Yellowjackets' eighth. The Falcons have now beaten the Yellowjackets seven straight times.
 
Ty Ketz (Clayton, Wis./Clayton) returned to the lineup to lead the Yellowjackets in scoring with 20 points. Brian Lindblom (Spooner, Wis./Spooner) added 14 points and Caleb Burch (Eau Claire, Wis./Altoona) had 11. John Denny (Luck, Wis./Luck) played well for the second game in a row. He went five-of-five from the field on his way to 12 points. Ketz had six of the team's 13 assists.

The Falcons had five players in double-figures, with C.J. Lewis leading the way with 15 points. The Falcons recorded 56 points in the paint.
 
With the loss the Yellowjackets fall to 8-11 overall and 2-8 in the WIAC. With six conference games remaining, the Yellowjackets have little margin for error the rest of the way and have to play above-.500 basketball to push themselves back in the playoff picture. The first chance to get back in the win column comes Saturday when the Yellowjackets travel to Platteville to take on the Pioneers. The game at Bo Ryan Court will tip off at 7:00 p.m.