The UW-Eau Claire Men’s Basketball team took on Bethel University at the Zorn Arena. This was the first of the team’s 12 home games for the season.

The Blugolds played against the Wisconsin Badgers on Oct. 30 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. This is part of the Badgers’ yearly rotation of playing against a WIAC school in an exhibition game according to head coach Matt Siverling.

“It was a great experience for our players. It was really tough competition but getting a chance to go down to Madison and play against players a lot of these men grew up watching,” Siverling said. “It was a great experience, and we are very thankful we got that opportunity.”

The Blugolds’ first conference game will be held on Nov 30 at 7 p.m. at Page Arena in River Falls, Wisconsin against UW-River Falls.

Brock Voigt is a fourth-year finance student who is a forward for the team.

“I am looking forward to competing with the guys every day. Getting in the flow of the season and getting some wins together,” said Voigt.

The Blugolds scored the first points of the game with a two-pointer shot by fourth-year finance student Alex Voigt.

They held their lead throughout the first period with a score of 49-28. At this point Eau Claire held six fouls and Bethel held eight.

During halftime, four spectators were brought out onto the court for a relay race. They were tasked with wearing a mascot head running to the end of the court, shoot a basket running back and passing it on to their partner to do the same thing. The boys beat the girls in this event.

In the second half, Bethel University closed in more on the Blugolds lead by scoring 41 points while the Blugolds scored another 43 points. This brought the total to 92 points for Eau Claire and 69 points for Bethel.

The top scorer of the game was Brock Voigt with 22 points and five rebounds according to Blugolds.com.

Starting off the season, the Blugolds stay motivated by remembering that every game matters and preparing for the tournament at the end of the season, according to Voigt.

The final points of the game were scored by third-year marketing student Nolan Blair with a rebound.

Michael Casper is a third-year biochemistry student and a guard for the team.

“I think this game really showed us how great we can play and how we can roll teams when we press and get after them,” said Casper. “We need to keep the energy up. We gave them a little bit in the second half, but we just have to keep on going and rolling.”

Looking forward to the season, Siverling said he wants to focus on getting better by being focused and competing every day.

“Go Blugolds,” Casper, Voigt and Siverling said.

The Blugolds played their next game on Nov. 12 at Sexton Arena in Collegeville, Minnesota against Saint John’s. In this game, they lost 70-71 in double overtime.

The Blugolds’ next home game will be held Nov. 19 against the University of Northwestern-St. Paul at 5 p.m.

For more information visit the Men’s Basketball page on Blugolds.com.

Geske can be reached at [email protected].