The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team set a single-season school record with its 22^nd win of the year with a 69-55 victory over UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night in Mitchell Hall in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship (presented by Culver's).  

With the win, UWL advances to the WIAC Championship game Friday, February 28. UWL, the tournament's second-seed, will travel to top-seeded and third-ranked UW-Platteville for the title game at 7 p.m.

UW-Eau Claire drops to 17-10.

UWL and UW-Eau Claire were meeting for the second time in WIAC Tournament history. The Eagles earned a 76-66 victory in the first round in 2017.

The game was tied twice in the first half on Wednesday, including 4-4. UW-Eau Claire took a 7-4 lead with 15:49 left on Carter Lichtsinn's three-point field goal. UWL went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-7 lead with 11:58 remaining with four points from Sam Grieger and three from Dustin Derousseau.

The Blugolds later cut the lead to 16-14 with 7:47 left when Grieger's five points and Derousseau's three points extended the Eagles lead to 24-14 with 6:09 remaining. UWL led, 30-22, but UW-Eau Claire scored the final four points of the half on layups from Lichtsinn (1:28 left) and Drew Maloney (:29) to make it 30-26.

Grieger's jumper to start the second half gave UWL a 32-26 lead when UW-Eau Claire tied the contest with six straight points, including Michael Casper's layup with 18:03 left to the game at 32-32.

UWL, the tournament's second-seed, went on a 13-0 run to make it 45-32, including Torin Hannah's layup with 10:55 remaining to give the Eagles their 13-point lead. UW-Eau Claire missed 10 straight shots from the field and two free throws while committing four turnovers in UWL's 13-0 run.

UW-Eau Claire, the tournament's third-seed, could get no closer than 11 points the rest of the game as UWL led by as many as 20.

It is UWL's third win over UW-Eau Claire this season, after sweeping the two regular-season meetings, including 69-55 on January 4 in La Crosse and 60-55 in Eau Claire on February 8. UWL shot 41.3% from the field on Wednesday, including 25.0% (five-of-20) from three-point range, and 80.0% (12-of-15) at the free throw line. Grieger led the Eagles with 21 points, going eight-of-13 from the field, including one-of-one from three-point range, and four-of-five at the line. He added five rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks. Derousseau finished with 14 points and six rebounds Wednesday night with JJ Paider totaling 12 points, seven rebounds and team-high three assists. Khris Green added nine points off the bench while Hannah had four points and team-high eight rebounds.

UW-Eau Claire shot 38.3% from the field, including 20.0% (five-of-25) from three-point range, and 44.4% (four-of-nine) at the line. Huschka led the Blugolds with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Lichtsinn and Casper each finished with 11 points.

Making its 22nd appearance in the WIAC Tournament, which began in 1999, UWL will be playing in its third championship game in school history when it travels to UW-Platteville on February 28.