HANCOCK, Mich (December 14, 2018) - UW-Stout built up as much as a 16 point first half lead, allowed Finlandia University to pull to within six points at halftime, but then built the lead back up to 16 points and went on to a 69-56 win over the Lions at the Paavo Nurmi Center Friday evening.

John Keefe (Sr, Medford), Luke Geiger (So, Sherwood) and Jon Ciriacks (So, East Troy) accounted for 25 of Stout's 31 first half points and the three went on to be the Blue Devils' (5-4) leading scorers for the evening. 

The Lions (0-8) would not go away as the two teams faced off for the second time this season. Stout won an 84-65 win over Finlandia in early November at the UW-Superior tournament.

Finlandia tied the score at 53 with about five minutes left to go in the contest, but the Blue Devils finished off the game on a 16-3 run as Keefe scored 10 points during that final run. 

Keefe finished with a game-high 27 points, the sixth time this season he has scored 20 or more points. Geiger topped off Keefe's night with 15 points and Ciriacks tossed in nine points.

The Blue Devils went 23 of 30 from the free throw line, including 14 of 19 in the second half. Keefe made 8 of 10 free throws, only one free throw short of Finlandia's work from the line. The Lions connected on 9 of 14 free throws. 

Jaden Janke led Finlandia with 18 points and Dylan Underwood finished with 16.

Stout stays in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and heads across the river to face NCAA Division II Michigan Tech in an exhibition game Saturday, Dec. 15. The Blue Devils return home to face Northland College, Friday, Dec. 21.