EAU CLAIRE - St. Norbert College couldn't recover from a slow start in its season opener and suffered an 80-66 setback to UW-Eau Claire in a non-conference game at Sonnentag Event Center.

Eau Claire opened the game on a 7-0 run and eventually built a lead of 28-11 just over 11 minutes into the game. St. Norbert trailed 35-17 with 5:36 left in the first half before cutting the deficit down to 38-30 just before halftime after a 13-3 run. The Blugolds scored a hoop just before intermission to lead 40-30 at the break.

St. Norbert went on a 15-9 run in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the second half to cut it to 49-45. The margin stayed in the single digits while the Green Knights battled back to within 62-60 with 5:17, but two empty possessions for the visitor preceded a 12-2 Eau Claire run to seal the outcome.

The Green Knights shot 38.6 percent from the floor, making 22 of 57 field-goal attempts. Mason Freiburger (pictured) had 21 points and seven rebounds, while Will Stuckey and Connor Pytleski added 12 points each. Ryan Cox had 11 points and eight rebounds.

Eau Claire shot 46.6 percent (27-for-58) from the floor. Will Boser paced the Blugolds with 21 points.