UW-L Drops Second Straight Game

For Immediate Release: Friday, December 21, 2007

La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team dropped its second straight game with a 73-67 loss to Loras College (Iowa) Friday night in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles fall to 5-4 on the season while the Duhawks improve to 7-2.

UW-L led 17-16 with 7:26 left in the first half, but Brian Centella hit a three-pointer to give Loras a 19-17 lead with 6:32 remaining and the Duhawks would never trail again. Loras finished the half on a 16-8 run to lead 32-25 at halftime. Tony Mane hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 29-25 with :14 left in the first half before Centella hit another three-pointer with :01 left to give the Duhawks a seven-point lead.

The Eagles cut the lead to 32-27 as Derek Wilcox scored the first basket of the second half, but UW-L would get no closer the rest of the game. Loras led 37-30 with 17:35 left in the game and went on a 15-4 run to lead 52-34 with 10:11 remaining. UW-L cut the lead to seven at 63-56 with 2:58 left and 65-58 with 2:16 remaining after Mane hit a pair of three-pointers, but Loras hit six-of-eight free throws in the final 1:39.

Mane led UW-L with 24 points, finishing eight-of-20 from the field, including five-of-12 from three-point range. He was three-of-four at the line. Chris Fehrenbach added 13 points for the Eagles, going three-of-13 from the field, including two-of-eight from three-point range. TJ Nereng, making his first career start, finished with nine points while Wilcox had eight points and six rebounds. Billy Kegler had a team-high eight rebounds. UW-L played without starting point guard Brandon Brown, who missed the game with an injury.

UW-L shot 34.3% from the field, including 33.3% (nine-of-27) from three-point range. The Eagles were 12-of-16 (75.0%) at the line.

Centella led four Loras starters in double figures with 19 points, going four-of-nine from the field (two-of-three from three-point range) and nine-of-11 at the line. Luke Slater recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds while Jake Oeth finished with 12 points and Kyle White 11.

Loras shot 46.8% from the field, including 41.7% (five-of-12) from three-point range. The Duhawks were 24-of-30 (80.0%) at the free throw line.

UW-L returns to action Friday, December 28 at the Wittenberg University Tournament. The Eagles face Marian (Ind.) at 4:30 p.m. (Central Time).