UW-Whitewater, ranked second by D3hoops.com, knocked UW-La Crosse from the unbeaten ranks with a 64-52 win at Mitchell Hall in La Crosse Wednesday night.

UW-W bolted out to a 7-2 lead, and stayed on top until senior center Lucas Morrissey put the Eagles in front 15-13 with a half hook in the lane at 13:55.  That was the only lead of the half for La Crosse.

With 1:24 left in the half Whitewater stole the ball, fed it ahead to sophomore guard KJ Evans (Beloit/Beloit), who dunked it home for a 33-24 Warhawk lead, the largest of the half.

La Crosse shot 50% from the floor in the half, Whitewater 44%.  The Eagles made 4-8 three pointers, Whitewater just 2-7, but the Warhawks forced ten UW-L turnovers, double the number Whitewater committed in the first half.  UW-W senior center Luke Knoble (Boscobel/Boscobel) led both teams with 13 points at the half.  Knoble made 6-8 field goal attempts.

KJ Evans (Beloit/Beloit)' layup at 12:14 put UW-W in front 47-37, and UW-W did not relinquish its double digit lead the rest of the way.  Whitewater's largest lead, 58-44 at was keyed by a defense that did not allow the Eagles to score for five minutes late in the game.  Luke Tweed made a layin at 5:59 for UW-L, and it wasn't until 0:59 was left in the game that La Crosse broke the drought with a free throw for a 65-40.

Whitewater won the battle on the boards, 40-28, and forced 16 turnovers, while UW-W had 11.  The Warhawks wound up shooting 44% from the field, La Crosse 41%. Both teams took 13 three point shots, with the Eagles hitting five and Whitewater two.  UW-W was 8-12 from the line; La Crosse went 5-6.

Knoble led both teams with a career high 22 points, hitting 7-1 from the field and 3-3 at the charity stripe.  He also led Whitewater with eight rebounds.  Evans added 14 points and freshman forward Darnell Harris (Milwaukee/Hamilton) had 13.  Senior forward Lucas Collom took scoring honors for the Eagles, with 17.  Senior guard Jeff Heiden chipped in with 11 points.  Sophomore forward Lucas Collom took game honors with ten rebounds.

UW-W is 6-0 overall, 2-0 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  UW-La Crosse is 6-1, and 1-1 in league play.

The next game for the Warhawks will be Saturday, December 8 at 3:00 versus UW-Eau Claire in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.