UWS beats UWEC, ex-coach

The University of Wisconsin-Superior men’s basketball team built a pair of 20-point second-half leads before hanging on to defeat the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds and former UWS head coach Matt Siverling 67-61 Wednesday night at Mertz Mortorelli Gym.

The win completed a season sweep for the Yellowjackets, who also defeated the Blugolds 75-53 on Dec. 12 in Eau Claire.

“It was a good win for the team,” UWS senior Walter Charlton said. “It didn’t matter who we were playing, I like the old coach. I’m just glad we came out to play today.”

Charlton played a role in a well-balance offensive attack for the Yellowjackets, who improve to 8-11 overall and 4-6 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Johnquez Brooks led the way with 14 points, while Trent Davis and Charlton each reached double figures with 10 points.

The Yellowjackets also got eight points from Austin Cahill, and six points apiece from Aaron Corry and Jarrod Peterson.

“Balanced scoring is always good because you’re not relying on just one person scoring,” Charlton said.

After leading 29-24 at the half, a 24-7 run in the first 11 minutes of the second half made the score 53-23.

After each team scored for a 55-35 game, the Blugolds chipped away at the deficit and eventually got within single digits by outscoring UWS 26-12 down the stretch.

The Blugolds’ rally was aided by the Yellowjackets’ 8-of-15 shooting from the free-throw line in the final 3:47.

“I’m sure we’ll be practicing on our free throws, but overall we did a good job on defense, that’s what helped us win,” Charlton said.

Three free throws by Brooks and another by Davis gave UWS a 67-56 lead with 41.4 remaining.

The Blugolds made things close on a basket by Trevor Berkley and a 3-pointer by Derek Baker.

The Yellowjackets held the Blugolds (9-10, 3-7) to 33.3 percent shooting from the field and just 7-for-33 (21.2 percent) from 3-point range.

The two teams exchanged leads six times in the first half and the game was tied twice, at 10-10 and 21-21.

UWS ended the first half with an 8-3 run for a 29-24 halftime lead.

Despite shooting just 3-for-11 from the field, Dustin Kalien led the Blugolds with 13 points. Eric Effertz and Nick Craggs also scored 12 points each for the Blugolds.

Craggs and Jordan Petersen led the Blugolds with eight rebounds apiece.

’JACKET JOTTINGS: UWS is at UW-Stevens Point at 3 p.m. Saturday. … The Blugolds entered Wednesday’s game on a three-game winning streak. … Siverling coached at UWS for two seasons before taking over at UW-Eau Claire this season.

UW-Eau Claire (9-10)

Kalien, Dustin 3-11 4-4 13; Effertz, Eric 6-14 0-0 12; Craggs, Nick 5-12 0-1 12; Mau, Lewis 3-15 0-0 7; Tachick, Ryan 1-2 2-2 4; Petersen, Jordan 1-6 2-2 4; Baker, Derek 1-1 0-0 3; Kohner, Jacob 1-3 0-0 2; Berkley, Trevor 1-1 0-0 2; Kleist, Andy 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 23-69 8-9 61.

UW-Superior (8-11)

Brooks, Johnquez 3-4 7-11 14; Davis, Trent 4-7 1-2 10; Charlton, Walter 3-5 4-4 10; Cahill, Austin 2-5 3-4 8; Byrne, Bronson 3-8 1-4 7; Peterson, Jarrod 2-7 1-2 6; Corry, Aaron 2-5 2-2 6; Bauer, Brendan 2-6 0-4 4; Lindblom, Brian 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 21-49 21-35 67.

UW-Eau Claire 24-37—61

UW-Superior 29-38—67

3-point goals—UWEC 7-33 (Kalien, 3-8; Craggs, 2-6; Baker, 1-1; Mau, 1-8; Kohner, 0-2; Petersen, 0-2; Effertz, 0-6), UWS 4-15 (Davis, 1-2; Cahill, 1-2; Brooks, 1-1; Peterson, 1-6; Bauer, 0-1; Corry, 0-2; Charlton, 0-1). Fouled out—UWEC-Effertz. Rebounds—UWEC 40 (Petersen, 8; Craggs, 8), UWS 40 (Byrne, 8). Assists—UWEC 7 (Effertz, 4), UWS 9 (Brooks, 4). Total fouls—UWEC 24, UWS 11. A-407.

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