Plymouth, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team opened its 2016-17 season with a 86-66 victory at Lakeland University (Wis.) Thursday night in Woltzen Gymnasium.  The Eagles improve to 1-0 on the season while the Muskies drop to 0-2. UWL now leads the all-time series, 9-3, with Lakeland (Wis.) as the Eagles earned a win in their season opener for the fourth time in the last five years.

UWL, which never trailed in the game, led 8-7 with 17:00 left in the first half when it used a 12-2 run to lead 20-9 with 12:03 remaining after a Brendon Manning layup. Lakeland (Wis.) trailed 24-11 with it went on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 24-21.  Sean Wheeler's jumper and Taulvish McCray's layup gave UWL a 28-21 advantage.

The Eagles, receiving votes on the D3hoops.com Preseason Top-25 Poll, led 28-24 when they went on a 12-4 run to lead 40-28. UWL led 44-32 at halftime.

UWL opened the second half on a 15-2 run to lead 59-34 with 16:01 remaining.  The Eagles later led 61-36 with 15:13 left when the Muskies went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 61-45. Lakeland (Wis.) cut the lead to 67-53 with 8:42 remaining, but could get no closer the rest of the game. 

"I thought tonight's game was one of our more complete opening games," said 14-year UWL head coach Ken Koelbl. "We had good scoring balance, defended solid collectively, rebounded with an edge and got to the free throw line."

UWL shot 50.0% (26-of-52) from the field Thursday, including 55.2% (16-of-29) in the first half.  The Eagles shot 33.3% (four-of-12) from three-point range for the game and 75.0% (30-of-40) at the free throw line.  The 30 free throws made are tied for fifth in single-game school history while the 40 attempts are tied for eighth in school history.  The 30 free throws made and 40 attempts are the most since finishing with a school record 48 made and 64 attempted versus Grinnell College (Iowa) December 9, 2001.

UWL outrebounded Lakeland (Wis.), 38-28, while scoring 28 points off the Muskies' 21 turnovers.  The Eagles got 35 points off the bench Thursday.

Zach Schradle, a 2016-17 D3hoops.com Second Team Preseason All-America, led four players in double figures for UWL with 21 points. He finished three-of-four from the field and 15-of-17 at the free throw line while also leading the Eagles with nine rebounds and five assists.  "Zach was strong around the basket, getting to the free throw line 17 times and having nine rebounds," said Koelbl.

Sam Skoyen scored a career-high 12 points in his first collegiate start, going four-of-eight from the field, including two-of-four from three-point range, and two-of-two at the line.  Austin Fritz finished with 11 points and five rebounds while going five-of-seven from the field and one-of-two at the line. Manning had a career-high 10 points for UWL, finishing two-of-four from the field and six-of-six at the free throw line.  

Wheeler and Ben Meinholz each finished with seven points for UWL as 11 players scored. McCray added six points. "Taulvish gave us great energy and intensity off the bench," said Koelbl.  "Watching Sam and Taulvish play well in their first extended action was very encouraging.  Tonight was a good point of departure for this team."

Lakeland (Wis.) shot 45.8% (22-of-48) from the field, including 41.7% (five-of-12) from three-point range, and 63.0% (17-of-27) at the line. Brandon James led the Muskies with 19 points while Pat McDonald finished with 13 and Joshuan McNeal with nine. 

UWL returns to action Tuesday, November 22 at city-rival Viterbo University (Wis.) at 7 p.m.