Stratton Leads with Career-High as UW-L Earns First WIAC Win

For Immediate Release: Saturday, January 3, 2009

La Crosse, Wis. – The UW-La Crosse men’s basketball team earned its first WIAC victory of the season with an 84-58 win over UW-Superior Saturday afternoon in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles, who won their third straight game overall, improve to 7-5 on the season and 1-2 in the conference. UW-Superior falls to 7-5 overall and 0-3 in the WIAC.

The Yellowjackets took a 11-10 lead with 16:04 remaining in the first half on Shane Manor’s layup, but the Eagles took the lead on Tony Mane’s jumper with 15:43 left and UW-L never trailed the rest of the game. The Eagles led 27-22 with 7:29 remaining in the opening half when they went on a 23-6 run to close the half and led 50-28. UW-L shot 60.0% (21-of-35) from the field in the first 20 minutes.

UW-Superior could get no closer than 20 points in the second half.

Trevor Stratton led UW-L with a career-high 22 points, finishing six-of-16 from the field, including four-of-eight from three-point range. He hit all six of his free throw attempts and finished with a game-high nine rebounds. Mane added 20 points for the Eagles, going eight-of-14 from the field (two-of-five from three-point range) and two-of-two at the line.

UW-L shot 52.4% from the field overall, including 44.4% (eight-of-18) from three-point range. The Eagles were 10-of-10 at the line.

Jake Smith led UW-Superior with 13 points while Manor finished with 11. Both had five rebounds. The Yellowjackets shot 37.9% from the field, including 25.0% (four-of-16) from three-point range. The team was 10-of-13 (76.9%) at the free throw line.

UW-L returns to action Wednesday, January 7 at UW-Whitewater at 7 p.m.