Box Score



Trailing by seven points with forty seconds to play, the Falcons closed the gap to two before running out of time and dropping a WIAC contest to Stout 77-75 Wednesday night at the Karges Center. In a back-and-forth battle the game saw five lead changes, the score even six times, and the lead never more than eight points.
 
The Falcons went on a quick 10-0 run early in the first half to go ahead by six. The run was highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers by Sam Meyer. Meyer, who went on to have a career-game with 12 points and four 3-pointers, hit three 3-pointers in a span of 2:53 propelling the Falcons to a 15-9 lead.
 
River Falls held onto the lead most of the first half by shooting well against arguably the nation's top defensive team. Stout ranks second in the nation in scoring defense allowing just 53.7 points per game, lead the nation by holding opponents to 36-percent shooting, and rank seventh in holding opponents to 27-percent from three-point range.
 
The 75 points is the most allowed by Stout all season and just the Falcons were just the third team to shoot over 35-percent from beyond the arc against the Blue Devils.
 
Stout went on a 9-0 run late in the first half to recapture the lead and held a 42-38 halftime lead. The lead changed a few more times in the second half before Stout took the lead for good at the 11-minute mark.
 
With 32 seconds remaining, the Falcons trailed 75-69 before Arik Smith made a layup while being fouled to cut into the Blue Devil lead. With the clock ticking down, Smith made another bucket with seven seconds left closing the gap to 77-74.
 
Stout missed a pair of free throws at the other end giving the Falcons four seconds on the clock facing a three point deficit. But a quick foul by Stout took away the chance for last-second three-pointer. With two seconds remaining the Falcons were sent to the free throw line and unable to finish the last-minute run, falling 77-75 to Stout.
 
Zach Peterson hit the 20-point mark for the fifth time this season as he finished with 21 points and six boards. David Stanley was in double figures for the fourth time with 11 points.
 
Smith tied a career-high with seven boards to go along with his seven points. While Ben Gresmer added seven points and four rebounds in his fifth consecutive game in the starting lineup.
 
The Falcons return to action when they travel to Platteville on Saturday. Game time is 3:00 p.m.

Box Score