MADISON, Wis. - The Edgewood College men's basketball team wanted to give a decent-sized home crowd a win to start the new season, but the University of Dubuque's speed and shooting altered the plan. The Spartans led wire-to-wire to hand the Eagles a 75-61 loss one opening night of the NCAA Division III basketball season.
The University of Dubuque (1-0) scored the first eight points of the game and blasted out to a 13-2 thanks to a pair of three-pointers by TJ Lake. Edgewood College (0-1) found the feet and started to reel the Spartans in. After a three-point play from Travis Kell, Jake Negus nailed the three-point shot and Sam Noyce followed with a jumper and a pair of free throws. Sy Staver then scored to pull the Eagles within 19-16 at the midway point of the first half.
The Eagles were again within five points following a Staver three-point play, with 6:28 left in the half, but went cold after Kyle Geiger's jump shot at the four-minute mark. The University of Dubuque scored the final eight points of the half to take a 38-23 lead into the locker room.
Edgewood College came out of the break with new energy, getting a pair of Staver three-pointers, sandwiched around a Kell three-point shot. Two more buckets and a free throw by Kell, got the Eagles back within seven points at 44-37 with 14:27 left to play. Later five straight points by Kell, including a three-point play made the score 56-49, but the Eagles would get no closer over the final eight minutes.
Despite a rough shooting night, Kell led the Eagles with 16 points and seven rebounds. Staver was the only other Eagles in double figures with 13 points and a team-high three assists. Negus and Noyce each had eight points off the bench in their Eagle debuts. Edgewood College shot 32.2 percent for the game and 77.3 percent (17-for-22) from the free throw line.
Dubuque was led by Lake and Jamaree Atwater who shared game-high honors with 23 points apiece. The pair combined to shoot 7-for-15 from the three-point line. Artwater and teammate Marcus McDaniel each had seven rebounds. The Spartans shot 42.2 percent from the field in the contest.
Edgewood College will take to the road for the first time on Saturday with a trip up to Ripon College. The Eagles and the Red Hawks will tip-off at 3:00 p.m.
