Chippewa Valley Times

Michael Casper, a senior from Merrill, Wisconsin, made headlines for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team by surpassing 1,000 career points and securing a victory against Carleton College. The game took place at the Sonnentag Event Center, where Casper's last-second three-pointer clinched a 76-73 win for the Blugolds.

Casper became the 44th player in program history to reach this milestone during the second half of the game. His performance was highlighted by his decisive shot from the halfcourt logo with just 1.4 seconds remaining on the clock. This effort brought his career total to 1,008 points.

The game was closely contested throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven points at any time. At halftime, Carleton held a slight advantage of 34-30. However, UW-Eau Claire quickly responded in the second half with a run that leveled the score.

In addition to Casper's contribution of 15 points on five out of eight shooting from beyond the arc, Carter Huschka led the Blugolds with 18 points and seven rebounds. Andre Renta added another solid performance with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

The Blugolds maintained strong shooting percentages throughout the game, achieving 55% overall and 48% from three-point range.

Looking ahead, UW-Eau Claire will begin their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play against No. 20 UW-La Crosse on January 4 at Mitchell Hall in La Crosse. They enter conference play riding a seven-game winning streak.

For ongoing updates about UW-Eau Claire's season, fans can visit Blugolds.com or follow their social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.