LA CROSSE, Wis. - Jacob Walczak hit the game winning three-pointer with 5.8 seconds left in overtime then blocked UW-La Crosse's last second three-point attempt to lift Stout to a 93-91 first round WIAC Tournament win.
Trailing 91-90 with 22 seconds left in overtime, Stout worked the clock down and
Brody Fox found Walczak on the left elbow and knocked down his fifth triple of the game to give Stout a 93-91 lead with 5.8 seconds left to play, La Crosse tried to attempt a game-winning 3-point attempt but Walczak blocked the shot and Stout won their first WIAC Tournament game since the 2012-13 season.
Walczak finished 7-15 from the field and and 5-11 from beyond the arc for 20 points, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Fox dished out a career-high nine assists to go along with his game-high 29 points.
The game went back and forth with 16 lead changes and 12 ties. UWL too the lead just over three minutes into the game and held a two possession lead for the next nine minutes. Stout then went on a 14-2 run over to take a 41-33 lead with just under five to play. Stout shot 56.4 percent in the first half, making 22-39 field goal attempts and took a 52-45 halftime lead.
UWL chipped away at the lead and eventually drew even at 57 with 13:25 left in the second half. Stout responded with a 15-2 run and led 72-60 with 6:49 left in regulation. The Eagles got an and-one layup and hit back to back triples to get back with in thee points with five left on the clock. The teams again traded the lead,
Aidan Shore hit a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left to give Stout a 81-79 lead but UWL hit the game tying layup with 10 left and the Blue Devils potential game winner field goal attempt was blocked at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
UWL opened overtime at the free-throw line to take the lead first. Walczak hit a triple to give Stout their first lead of the extra session at 86-84 with 2:44 left. UWL immediately retook the layup with another and-one layup. Fox and Scharlau countered the Eagles free-throw attempts with buckets of their own to help the Blue Devils keep pace. Eight of La Crosse's 10 points in overtime were from the charity stripe. Scharlau grabbed a rebound on UWL's missed jumper to draw a jump ball with 28 seconds left and the possession arrow pointed the Blue Devils way. Stout called a timeout and a few seconds later Fox found Walczak for the game-winner.
For the game, Stout was 37-80 shooting for 46.3 percent. Stout had 25 assists with
Collin Vick dishing out 10 to record his first career double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Aidan Shore was 8-18 shooting for 18 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks.
George Scharlau scored 16 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils advance to the WIAC Tournament Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 22 when they face No. 15 UW-Platteville. Tip-off from Williams Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m.
