EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team took a lead late in the first half and never gave it up as the Blugolds defeated UW-Oshkosh 56-49 on Ken Anderson Court in Zorn Arena tonight.

The game started with the Titans outscoring the Blugolds 18-9 over the first 10 minutes but over the next eight minutes, Eau Claire outscored Oshkosh 19-10 and the game was tied at 28 with just under two minutes left in the opening half.

Andy Kleist (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) scored on a layup and Nick Craggs (Sr.-Kimberly, Wis.) added another basket before halftime to give the Blugolds a 33-28 lead at the break.

Eau Claire opened the second half with an 8-0 run over the first two minutes and led the Titans by 13 points (41-28), the Blugolds' largest lead of the night.

Oshkosh steadily chipped away at Eau Claire's lead for the next 17 minutes and was within three points (50-47) with less than a minute to play, but the Blugolds outscored the Titans 6-2 over the final 40 seconds to win by seven.

Jordan Petersen (Sr.-Strum, Wis./Eleva-Strum) led the Blugolds with 14 points while Craggs added 12 and Lewis Mau (So.-Colfax, Wis.) had 10. Kleist led the game with nine rebounds.

Eau Claire led the game shooting from the field, going 18-for-42 (42.9 percent) to 18-for-48 (37.5 percent) for Oshkosh. The Blugolds also led in rebounding 36-24 but committed more turnovers than Oshkosh, 18-11.

The Blugolds are now 10-11 on the season and 4-8 in the WIAC while Oshkosh drops to 1-10 in conference play and 6-14 overall. The Blugolds have now won four straight over the Titans.

The Blugolds will be at UW-River Falls on Saturday for a game beginning at 3 p.m. The game is part of a doubleheader with the women.

-KM-