MENOMONIE — The University of Wisconsin-Stout men's basketball team opened its season with a hard-fought 64-62 loss to Calvin University on Saturday at Johnson Fieldhouse.

Stout built an early 7-4 lead behind baskets from AJ Uttech, Wesley Mboga, and Collin Vick before Calvin tied the game at 7. The Blue Devils later put together a defensive stretch holding Calvin off the scoreboard, capped by a jumper from Uttech that pushed Stout ahead 11-9 with 9:01 remaining in the first half.

Calvin tied the game three times and took a 17-15 lead with 5:34 left in the half, but Uttech scored twice around an Owen VanderWaal layup to even the score at 19. Aiden Johnson followed with a 3-pointer for a 22-19 UW-Stout advantage. After Calvin pulled within one, Uttech added a free throw and a layup, and Domanyck Schwarzenberger beat the first-half buzzer with a 3-pointer to send the Blue Devils into halftime ahead 28-21.

Calvin chipped away early in the second half, pulling within 29-28 before another 3-pointer from Johnson helped Stout rebuild a 36-30 lead. Calvin responded with a pair of 3-pointers and a layup to move ahead 40-38, triggering a back-and-forth finish.

Uttech caught fire down the stretch, sinking three 3-pointers—first tying the game at 49 and later giving the Blue Devils brief leads at 56-55 and 59-57. Calvin tied it at 59 with 2:06 left, and Mboga knotted it again at 61 with two free throws at the 1:23 mark.

After Calvin reclaimed the lead, Uttech brought Stout within 63-62 with 40 seconds remaining. Following a Calvin free throw with one second left, Stout's desperation half-court heave bounced long off the backboard as time expired.

Top Performers

• AJ Uttech: 25 points, 10-for-17 field goals, 3-for-5 from 3-point range, 5 rebounds, 3 assists (33 minutes)
• Collin Vick: 10 rebounds, 8 points, 4 steals, 2 assists, 1 block (35 minutes)
• Aiden Johnson: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal (24 minutes)
• Nolan Stauffacher: 7 offensive rebounds (7 total rebounds), 2 blocks (16 minutes)

The Blue Devils (0-1) travel to Minneapolis to face North Central University (MN) on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at Clark-Danielson Gymnasium.