The fifth-ranked UW-La Crosse men’s basketball team’s historic season continues, after an incredible comeback win Friday at Michell Hall.
The Eagles overcame a 16-point, second-half deficit in beating No. 9 Illinois Wesleyan 72-65 in front of 1,492 raucous fans.
UW-L advance to its first-ever Elite 8 and increases its single-season wins record to 25-5, as it gets set to host No. 17 Washington U. (22-6) at 7 p.m. Saturday.
In their first-ever Sweet 16, the Eagles trailed 48-32 with 13:46 remaining in the game when coach JT Gritzmacher called for a timeout.
“We let everything we couldn’t control handle us,” Gritzmachersaid. “We were so out of character. We were worried about the foul calls. I said let’s worry about us, and we did that. They calmed down and we stayed together.”
UW-L forward JJ Paider put the team in his back, scoring 12 of his team’s final 14 points. The junior finished with 21 points.
“I guess you can say a switch got flipped inside of me,” Paider said. “I didn’t want to let the moment get away, and I thought our best chance to win was when I had the ball.”
As the shots continued to fall, the noise level in Mitchell Hall grew. Paider couldn’t help but think back to his first official visit to UW-L.
“There might have been 200 people in the stands,” he says. “Obviously we’ve had just one tournament win in program history. Tonight was the best atmosphere I’ve been a part of. I think that’s a testament to this team. When you do something special, people want to see it.”
The comeback was completed at the 4:35 mark when fifth-year senior guard Will Fuhrmann got a steal and score. The Eagles didn’t give the lead back.
Fuhrmann said the belief in each other was a big reason for this unprecedented season.
“We never waiver,” he said. “No matter what happens we stick with each other. I’m very proud of these guys.”
TOP PHOTO: JJ Paider scored a team-high 21 points, including 18 in the second half. (PHOTO: Jim Lund, UW-L Athletics)