With postseason play looming right around the corner, the UW-Superior men's basketball team hoped Saturday afternoon's game with UW-LaCrosse would provide not only a playoff level atmosphere but also the kind of performance needed to advance in the conference tournament.

And while the Yellowjackets played some of their best basketball of the season, it was the Eagles who made all the right plays down the stretch, holding off UW-Superior for a hard-fought 83-79 win at Mitchell Hall.

With the loss, the Yellowjackets finished the regular season with a record of 9-16 overall and 5-11 in WIAC conference action while the Eagles improved to 17-8 and 10-6 ahead of both teams' postseason openers on Tuesday.

After a layup by Walter Charlton (Nassau, Bahamas/Teleos Christian) gave the Yellowjackets a 2-0 lead on the first possession, UW-LaCrosse scored the next eight points to take an 8-2 lead on a three-pointer by Lucas Morrissey with 16:24 remaining in the first half.

The Eagles upped their lead to 18-8 on a Luke Tweed three-pointer with 8:36 left before seven points from Aaron Corry (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern), two free throws from Trent Davis (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Bernard's), a free throw from Charlton and four points from Brendan Bauer (Eleva, Wis./Gilmanton) helped the Yellowjackets climb to within 26-24 with 2:19 left in the opening stanza.

A three-pointer from Jarrod Peterson (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) brought UW-Superior to within 28-27 with 1:45 showing on the clock, helping keep the Yellowjackets close before another three by Davis as time expired resulted in a 34-31 Eagles' lead at the intermission.

The Yellowjackets finally rallied back to even matters 40-40 when Peterson connected on another three with 16:51 left in regulation.

But Tweed hit a jumper and a three-pointer on the next two possessions, giving the Eagles a 45-40 edge with 16:09 left in regulation.

UW-LaCrosse eventually upped their lead to 61-52 on another three by Tweed with 10:05 left in the second half

The Yellowjackets again rallied back, cutting the lead to 65-64 on a driving layup by Peterson with 5:55 showing on the clock.

UW-LaCrosse sealed matters down the stretch however, getting two free throws each from Braden Tice and Tweed in the final 24 seconds of the contest.

The Yellowjackets were led by Peterson with 18 points while Bauer added 14 points.  Davis also had 10 points for UW-Superior.

UW-LaCrosse was led by Tweed and Lucas Collom, who each had 20 points. Morrissey finished with 16 points while Tice pitched in with 11.

The Yellowjackets hit the road to take on UW-Stout in the first round of the WIAC Tournament on Tuesday.  Game time from Johnson Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m.  The game can be heard locally on 91.3 FM KUWS.  Matt Johnson will have the call.