EAU CLAIRE— This weekend saw the first basketball games for Blugold men’s and women’s basketball during the Market & Johnson Blugold Tip-Off Tournament. The games were the first to be played at the Sonnentag Event Center, a part of the new $122 million multi-purpose facility which opened earlier this year.
The event center has a capacity of 3,500 people for sporting events as compared to the former home of Blugold basketball, W.L. Zorn Arena, which only held 2,500 people. Opened in 1952, Zorn Arena hosted Blugold basketball games for over 70 years. It is now permanently closed and its demolition is expected to begin in the summer of 2025.
Men’s basketball head coach Zach Malvik said his players were excited to play at a new, larger arena and the anticipation helped them get hyped for their games. It is Malvik’s first year with the Blugolds, so he never coached a game at the Zorn Arena.
Following a strong home opener for his team, Malvik hopes that with a few more wins, the team will be able to fill the arena and get more of a home advantage going.
Blugold men’s basketball games
Photos: UWEC men’s basketball vs. Nebraska Wesleyan
The men’s team had a solid start to their season, beating No. 14 Nebraska Wesleyan University in their home opener Saturday night. The Blugolds beat the Prairie Wolves 68-64.
Senior Michael Casper led the team in scoring with 25 points, followed by junior Andre Renta who scored 17 points. This was Renta’s first game with the Blugolds, having just transferred this year after playing for two years at St. Cloud State in Minnesota.
On Sunday, the Blugolds fell to Gustavus Adolphus College. The Gusties, who received votes in preseason rankings, beat the Blugolds 86-80 in overtime.
Renta and Casper led the team in scoring again, with 19 and 18 points respectively. Senior Drew Maloney followed close behind with 17 points, but the combined effort was still not enough to beat the Gusties.
The Blugolds men’s team has their next games this Friday and Saturday at the Marietta Shrine Tournament in Ohio. Friday night they will play Marietta College and then will face off against either Maryville or Mary Washington on Saturday. Neither Marietta College, Maryville, or Mary Washington received any votes in preseason rankings.
Blugold women’s basketball games
Photos: Blugold women’s basketball vs. Simpson
The opening tournament proved tough for the women’s team, who lost both of their games. On Saturday, the team lost to Simpson College, who beat the Blugolds 77-73.
Junior Reanna Hutchinson led the Blugolds in scoring with 30 points. It was Hutchinson’s first game with the Blugolds, having transferred after playing two seasons at Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa.
On Sunday, the team fell to No. 11 Gustavus Adolphus College. The Gusties beat the Blugolds 73-49. The Blugolds were able to hold their own in the beginning, ending the first quarter 13-13, but things took a turn for the worse when the Gusties outscored the Blugolds 27-16 in the second quarter.
The Blugold women’s team has their next game this Saturday at Central College in Iowa.
