LA CROSSE, Wis. — UW-Stout went toe-to-toe with No. 19 UW-La Crosse for 40 minutes Wednesday night at Mitchell Hall, but a decisive edge at the free throw line proved to be the difference as the Eagles pulled away late for an 86-78 win.
The Blue Devils (8-14, 4-7 WIAC) placed four players in double figures and shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range, but La Crosse (17-5, 7-4 WIAC) converted 25-of-30 free throws — including 19-of-23 in the second half — to secure the conference victory.
First Half
La Crosse opened the game on a 7-0 run before Domanyck Schwarzenberger got Stout on the board with a transition three off a Mason Stoik assist. Wesley Mboga followed with a triple of his own as the Blue Devils settled in offensively.
After the Eagles pushed their lead to 22-9 midway through the half, Stout answered with one of its best stretches of the night. Aidan Shore ignited the run with a two-handed dunk in traffic, then moments later Carson Leuzinger came up with a steal that led to another Shore dunk in transition, trimming the deficit to six at 22-16.
The Blue Devils continued to chip away. Schwarzenberger knocked down a fastbreak three off a Collin Vick steal, and Vick scored inside in the final 30 seconds to send Stout into the locker room trailing just 41-36.
Despite shooting 46.7 percent in the first half and hitting six three-pointers, Stout went just 2-of-8 from the free throw line in the opening 20 minutes, while La Crosse converted 6-of-7.
Second Half
Stout came out aggressive to start the second half. Vick scored inside on back-to-back possessions, and Mboga buried a transition three off a Vick assist to cut the lead to 45-43.
The turning point came midway through the half. Trailing 53-50, Stout forced three straight turnovers. Schwarzenberger drilled a fastbreak three, AJ Uttech finished a steal with a layup and the and-one free throw, and Gavin Johnson knocked down a jumper to cap a 9-0 run that gave the Blue Devils the lead at 55-53 with 13:00 remaining.
La Crosse responded behind Dustin Derousseau, who finished with a game-high 34 points. A three-point play in transition and a steady parade to the free throw line helped the Eagles regain control. Derousseau went 14-of-16 from the stripe, repeatedly converting after contact and in late-game foul situations.
Stout closed within 66-69 after a Mason Stoik steal and fastbreak layup with just over six minutes to play, but the Eagles answered with a 8-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer from Derousseau and four consecutive free throws to stretch the lead back to double digits.
Mboga kept the Blue Devils within striking distance, scoring 10 of his team-high 22 points in the second half and knocking down five three-pointers on the night. Schwarzenberger added 16 points, Uttech finished with 15, and Vick controlled the glass with a 12-rebound effort to go along with eight points.
Stout forced 15 La Crosse turnovers and scored 26 points off those miscues, but the Eagles' efficiency — 53.8 percent from the field — and their 18-point advantage at the free throw line ultimately sealed the outcome.
By The Numbers
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25-of-30 – La Crosse at the free throw line (83.3%), compared to 7-of-16 for Stout (43.8%).
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34 points – Dustin Derousseau, including 14-of-16 at the stripe.
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22 points – Wesley Mboga, shooting 8-of-11 from the field and 5-of-8 from three.
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39-34 – Stout advantage on the boards, led by Collin Vick's 12 rebounds.
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26 points – Stout points off 15 Eagle turnovers.
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11 three-pointers – For the Blue Devils, shooting 39.3% from deep.
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28 fastbreak points – For Stout, sparked by multiple steals and transition finishes.
Up Next
UW-Stout returns home Saturday to host UW-Oshkosh, who is receiving votes in the national Top 25 poll. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at Johnson Fieldhouse as the Blue Devils look to bounce back in another key WIAC matchup.
