University of St. Thomas Athletics
UW-La Crosse
First loss for Tommies
12/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Senior center Joe Werner had 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead visiting UW-LaCrosse to a 62-54 victory over No. 4-ranked St. Thomas in non-conference men's basketball Thursday night at UST's Schoenecker Arena.
Senior Mike Keating had 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, and senior Bryan Schnettler scored 17 points for the Tommies (6-1), who played without senior All-American center Isaac Rosefelt (16.7 ppg, 11.2 rpg), who is out with an illness.
It was just the third home loss in the last 29 games at Schoenecker for St. Thomas, which was coming off a 15-day layoff after final exams.
UST shot only 34% from the field (20-of-61), well under its 53% season average. The Toms outrebounded LaCrosse 38-34 but were outscored 16-5 at the foul line.
The loss spoiled a milestone night for 27-year Tommie head coach Steve Fritz, who coached his 700th game.
The Eagles (7-3) scored their third road victory over a ranked team this season after previously winning at UW-Whitewater and at UW-Platteville.
LaCrosse got 60 of its 62 points from its starting five. The Eagles shot just 31% in the first half but made 57% in the second half (12-of-21) to finish at 42% (21-of-50).
The Eagles made 11-of-16 at the foul line in the final 4:07, including 7-of-8 in the last 47 seconds. Junior guard Chris Fehrenbach scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, including seven in a game-closing 12-6 run. Senior Chris Ask added 12 points and five assists, and soph Brandon Brown added eight points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Toms recovered from an early 9-3 deficit and led 23-21 at halftime. UST's biggest lead was 33-27, but the Eagles used a 17-3 run to take a 44-36 lead midway through the second half.
UST pulled within 50-48 with 3:48 to go on Andy Dwyer's basket, but never got closer down the stretch.
The Toms play Dec. 29-30 in the UW-River Falls tournament.
