12/13/05

Though the Saints out scored the Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire 30-27 in the second half, a 19-point deficit in the opening half proved to be too far to come back from as the host Blugolds cruised to a 76-60 victory over the Saints at Zorn Arena in Eau Claire.

The Saints fell behind from the opening bucket and were forced to call a time out only three minutes into the game after Eau Claire opened up with a 7-0 run.

The visiting Saints battled back to within two at 9-7 at the 14:22 mark but that would be the closest they would come as Eau Claire answered with another 7-0 run, and later a 9-0 run that pushed the lead nearly to its halftime margin of 19.

Derek Johnson did all he could to keep the Saints in the game in the first half going 7 for 11 from the field, including four 3-pointers, scoring 18 of his game-leading 25 in the initial 20 minutes.

In the second half, both teams traded baskets much of the way until the Saints carved into the lead over the final 8 minutes to bring what had grown to a 24 point lead at one point down to the final 16 point margin.

Johnson was the only Saint scoring in double-figures while the Blugolds had three.

The Saints actually out-rebounded Eau Claire 41-38, led by William Maupins's 8 and Luke Schramm's 6 boards