EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The No. 23-ranked St. Olaf College men's basketball team fell, 80-75, in its season-opener against non-conference opponent UW-Eau Claire on Thursday evening at Zorn Arena.

Despite the Oles (0-1) shooting 51 percent from the floor and knocking down 11 three-pointers, the Blugolds (1-0) shot 60 percent from the floor, 39 percent behind the arc and outrebounded the Oles 30-21.

Senior Austin Korba led five Oles in double figures with a career-high 24 points. Dominic Bledsoe and Troy Diggins Jr. each had 11 points, while Nate Albers and Frank Delaney added 10 apiece.

In the first three minutes of play, the Blugolds shot 5-of-5 and sank three three-pointers to take an early lead at 13-4. UW-Eau Claire stretched its lead to 17-7 with 14:41 in the half remaining before the Oles climbed back into the game.

Back-to-back threes from junior Nate Albers and sophomore Dominic Bledsoe cut the Blugolds' lead to two at 17-15 after an 8-0 run. The Oles took the lead for the first time in the game at 20-19 with a three-pointer from Delaney, followed by a steal and quick basket from Korba to force a timeout by UW-Eau Claire.

UW-Eau Claire went on a 12-4 run to regain the lead, 34-28, with four minutes remaining in the half.  The Blugolds tied their largest lead of the half at 10 with 55 seconds remaining, but St. Olaf hit back-to-back threes, including a deep three from Korba at the buzzer, to make it a 40-36 game at the half.

UW-Eau Claire went on a quick 9-3 run to start the second half and extended the lead to 14 points with 12:53 remaining in the game. The Oles climbed back within five, 59-54, after a 9-0 run over a two-minute period, with Diggins Jr. and Bledsoe accounting for all nine of the points in the run.

A Diggins Jr. three with 8:49 to go made it a four-point game, but UW-Eau Claire built up a 72-63 lead with 2:36 to go by holding the Oles to six points over a stretch of over six minutes.

Down by nine with a minute and a half left, Korba sank a three-pointer to bring the Oles within six followed by another three-pointer from Albers in the right corner with 46 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 74-71 inside the final minute. UW-Eau Claire came back with a layup out of a timeout, followed by a St. Olaf turnover to help send the Oles to a season-opening loss for the first time since 2007-08.

The Oles are back to action Tuesday, Nov. 13 against No. 12 UW-Stevens Point in their home opener at 7 p.m. at Skoglund Center.