And with an enthusiastic crowd looking on, the Yellowjackets made themselves right at home, breaking open a close game in the second half behind several clutch plays by Ben Aalfs (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) and Walter Charlton (Nassau, Bahamas/Teleos Christian) to down the Blugolds 64-53.

The victory puts the Yellowjackets at 7-4 overall on the season and 2-2 in WIAC conference action while UW-Eau Claire falls to 6-4 and 1-3 on the season.

Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage in the early stages of the contest, as the two sides combined to shoot just 17-of-56 in the opening half.

Even with their struggles from the field, the Yellowjackets managed to forge ahead at 23-16 with 2:39 left following a layup by Charlton, a three-pointer by Aalfs and an inside score from Cole Schreiner (Eleva, Wis./Eleva-Strum).

UW-Eau Claire's Jordan Petersen would connect on a three-pointer as time expired to cut the Yellowjackets advantage to 23-19 at the intermission before the Blugolds would rally back to take the lead at 27-26 with 17:30 left in regulation after consecutive three's by Nick Bartlett and Dustin Kalien and a short jumper by Kevin Rabbers.

The game would remain tight over the next several minutes as the two teams traded baskets, resulting in a 37-37 deadlock with 11:07 left following a layup by the Blugolds' Andy Kleist.

But the Yellowjackets would turn the momentum in their favor with 10:30 left when Charlton picked up a steal and finished a 2-on-1 with a thunderous alley-oop dunk from Trent Davis (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Bernard's) to give UW-Superior a 39-37 lead.

From there, the Yellowjackets would steadily pull away, upping their lead to 46-39 on a three by Dustin Ritchie (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) with 8:39 left before taking their largest lead of the evening at 57-45 on another three by Ritchie with 2:31 showing on the clock.

The closest UW-Eau Claire would come the rest of the way would be 58-51 with 40 seconds left as UW-Superior connected on six straight free throws in the final 54 seconds to seal the victory.

Offensively, the Yellowjackets were paced by Aalfs with 16 points while Brendan Bauer (Eleva, Wis./Gilmanton) added 14.  Adam Hjelter (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) finished with 11 points for UW-Superior while Ritchie finished with 10.

UW-Eau Claire was paced by Rabbers with 10 points.

UW-Superior will host St. Scholastica on Saturday in the first of two meetings with the Saints this season.  Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.  The game can be watched live on the iFan Sports Network.  It can also be heard live on 91.3 FM KUWS with Matt Johnson and Monte Stewart on the call.