MENOMONIE, Wis. (Feb. 12, 2025) – In a thrilling WIAC showdown, the UW-Stout men's basketball team pulled out a dramatic 82-81 victory over UW-River Falls on Wednesday night at Johnson Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils outscored the Falcons 40-38 in the second half, securing the win in a game that featured 15 lead changes and four ties.
Game Recap
The action was intense from the start, with both teams trading baskets throughout the first half. UW-River Falls shot an efficient 51.6% from the field in the opening period, taking a narrow 43-42 lead into halftime.
The second half saw more of the same back-and-forth play, with neither team able to build a commanding lead. Jacob Walczak led the charge for UW-Stout, pouring in a team-high 20 points, while Mason Stoik provided a spark with 16 points, including four three-pointers. Collin Vick dominated the boards, finishing with 11 rebounds, seven points along with eight assists.
With just over four minutes remaining, UW-River Falls held a 78-72 lead, but the Blue Devils fought back. Justin Nelson came up huge off the bench, scoring 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and Jackson Wilhelmson added 10 points, helping Stout claw back into the game.
Trailing by one in the final minute, UW-Stout took the lead at 82-81 thanks to a timely bucket from Walczak with 43 seconds remaining. The Falcons had a chance to win it in the closing seconds, but the Blue Devil defense held firm, forcing a tough contested shot that missed as time expired, sealing the win for Stout.
By the Numbers
- Jacob Walczak led UW-Stout with 20 points, adding 3 rebounds.
- Mason Stoik shot 4-of-6 from three-point range, finishing with 16 points.
- Collin Vick controlled the glass with 11 rebounds and dished out a team-high 8 assists.
- Justin Nelson was nearly perfect from the field, scoring 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
- Jackson Wilhelmson added 10 points in a key bench role.
- UW-Stout shot 40.9% from three-point range (9-of-22) and 78.6% from the free-throw line (11-of-14).
- The Blue Devils held a 28-24 edge in points in the paint and got 29 points from their bench.
Up Next
The Blue Devils hit the road for one of their toughest tests of the season, facing #3 UW-Platteville on Saturday, Feb. 15. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. as Stout looks to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
