2003-04 UW-Oshkosh Men's Basketball News

Capelle Named All-WIAC First Team

Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) became the first UW-Oshkosh freshman to receive All-WIAC first team honors in men's basketball when the league announced its awards for the 2003-04 season on Thursday (March 4).

Capelle started all 27 games for UW-Oshkosh during his rookie season, leading the Titans to a 14-13 record, a sixth-place finish in the WIAC regular season standings and a semifinal round appearance in the WIAC Tournament.

Capelle averaged 13.8 points per game this past year to become the first freshman to lead UW-Oshkosh in scoring since Ralph Sims during the 1974-75 campaign. Capelle also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game to rank second on the squad in both categories. He scored in double figures in 23 of the Titans' 27 games, including a season-best 21 points three times.

Among his WIAC mates, Capelle ranked third in the league in free throw percentage (85.0), sixth in three-point field goals (55), ninth in both rebounding and three-point field goal percentage (39.6), 10th in scoring and 13th in field goal percentage (41.3).

Capelle was joined on the All-WIAC first team by junior Casey Drake of UW-Eau Claire, senior Casey Taggatz of UW-La Crosse, junior Brad Reitzner of UW-Platteville, senior Rich Melzer of UW-River Falls, junior Nick Bennett and junior Jason Kalsow of UW-Stevens Point, senior Jeff Vandenberghe of UW-Stout, senior Cody Kastern of UW-Superior and senior Matt Jones of UW-Whitewater. Capelle is just the second freshman since the 1974-75 season to earn All-WIAC first team honors, with UW-Whitewater's Aubrey Lewis-Byers also receiving the accolade during the 1999-2000 campaign.

Melzer was named the league's player of the year for a second straight season, joining previous back-to-back recipients Gib Hinz (1979-80) and Mike Ratliff (1970-72) of UW-Eau Claire, Tim Dworak (2002-03) and Ralph Sims (1977-78) of UW-Oshkosh and Terry Porter (1984-85) of UW-Stevens Point.

Receiving All-WIAC honorable mention recognition were Dan Archambault of UW-Eau Claire, Brandon Temperly of UW-Platteville, Chris Becker, Billy Halter and Micah Helfrey of UW-River Falls and Angelo Griffin and Melvin Williams of UW-Whitewater.

Rick Bowen of UW-River Falls was voted WIAC Coach of the Year, while Casey Taggatz of UW-La Crosse was named the winner of the WIAC's Max Sparger Senior Scholar-Athlete Award.

Nationally-Ranked Pointers Defeat Titans In WIAC Tournament Semifinal

UW-Stevens Point will make its first appearance in the championship game of the WIAC Men's Basketball Tournament since 2000 after posting a 70-59 win over UW-Oshkosh on Thursday (Feb. 26) in Stevens Point. The loss snapped the Titans' string of three straight appearances in the title games.

Second-seed UW-Stevens Point (22-5) advances to the championship game of the WIAC Tournament, and due to the loss by top-seed UW-River Falls, will host fourth-seed UW-Platteville in the title contest on Saturday (Feb. 28). The Pioneers upset the host Falcons, 65-62, in the other semifinal round game held Thursday.

The win for UW-Stevens Point was its fourth this season over UW-Oshkosh (14-13). It was the second time the Pointers have ever played a team four times, splitting four meetings with UW-Eau Claire in 2000, while the Titans had never played a team four times in a season. In addition to the two regular season conference meetings, the teams also played in the championship game of Christmas tournament held in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Titans were the two-time defending tournament champions and had a seven-game tournament winning streak snapped. In fact, they had won nine of their previous 10 tournament contests.

UW-Oshkosh got out to a strong start, taking an 8-1 lead five and a half minutes into the game before Jason Kalsow hit back-to-back baskets to start and eight-point UW-Stevens Point run. The Titans went five minutes without scoring during that stretch and had another five-minute dry spell later in the half as the Pointers went on a 10-0 spurt for a 25-15 lead with 2:39 left.

UW-Oshkosh’s Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) drained a three-pointer at the first half buzzer to pull the Titans within 27-21 and the UW-Oshkosh climbed back within two points at 33-31 with 16:33 left. However, the Pointers scored six straight points as the Titans missed six straight shots and the Pointers held at least a six-point lead the rest of the game.

The biggest blow to the Titans’ comeback came with inside nine minutes left when Pointers’ senior Neal Krajnik drained back-to-back three-pointers to give the Pointers a 50-35 lead with 8:13 left. UW-Oshkosh was red-hot in the closing minutes, draining six of its final eight shots, but the Pointers made 11 of their last 12 free throws to seal the game. UW-Stevens Point scored its final 15 points from the free throw line and made its final field goal with 6:31 left. The Pointers attempted just one field goal in the last 5:25 of the game.

Nick Bennett scored 14 of his team-high 17 points in the second half for the Pointers and was nine-for-10 from the free throw line in the final five minutes. Krajnik had a season-high 16 points and freshman Jon Krull had a career-high game for the third straight outing with 15 points.

Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem) led the Titans with 19 points, while Capelle totaled 17 points and eight rebounds. The Titans also received eight points and six rebounds from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) and two points and five rebounds from Nathan Wesener (Fr. • Hilbert).

Titans Upset Nationally-Ranked Warhawks In WIAC Tournament Opener

Pete Warning (So. • Shiocton) scored a career-best 18 points as the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team kept its season alive with a 52-49 victory over nationally-ranked UW-Whitewater in a quarterfinal round contest of the WIAC Tournament held Tuesday (Feb. 24) in Whitewater.

UW-Oshkosh (14-12) advances to the semifinal round of the WIAC Tournament, where the Titans will play at UW-Stevens Point (21-5) on Thursday (Feb. 26). The Pointers defeated UW-Superior (12-14), 83-73, in Stevens Point on Tuesday to move to their fourth meeting of the season with the Titans.

If UW-Oshkosh defeats UW-Stevens Point, ranked 14th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, the Titans would play Saturday (Feb. 28) at UW-Platteville (15-11) or UW-River Falls (20-6) in the championship game. UW-River Falls will host UW-Platteville in a semifinal round matchup on Thursday after the Falcons defeated UW-Eau Claire (11-15), 82-69, and the Pioneers edged UW-Stout (14-11), 71-68 in overtime on Tuesday.

Warning was UW-Oshkosh's player of the game as he sank all seven of his field goal attempts, made four of his six free throw tries, grabbed two rebounds and recorded two steals. Warning spirited UW-Oshkosh's comeback from a 47-41 deficit with 5:21 to play by counting seven points during the Titans' game-ending 11-2 scoring run.

UW-Whitewater, ranked 20th in the country, led UW-Oshkosh for all but three minutes of the second half. But, two of those minutes were at the end of the game when the Titans took the lead for good at 48-47 on a layup by Warning with 2:17 to play. Warning also extended the Titans' lead to 50-47 on a layup with 36 seconds remaining. Trailing 52-49 after UW-Oshkosh's David Gershenzon (So. • Glenview, Ill.) made a free throw with three seconds left, UW-Whitewater's Matt Jones misfired on a three-point shot at the buzzer that would've sent the game to overtime.

Despite holding UW-Whitewater to only 26.7 percent (8-30) shooting from the field in the first half, UW-Oshkosh took just a 25-24 lead to intermission. The Titans shot 50 percent (10-20) from the field in the opening period, but 10 less shots and six more turnovers than the Warhawks kept the score close at the end of 20 minutes of play. UW-Oshkosh did hold a 16-5 lead at the 9:25 mark of the first half, but UW-Whitewater ended the stanza with a 19-9 scoring run. UW-Whitewater's one-point deficit at the break was remarkable when considering that the Warhawks began the contest making just one of their first 14 shots from the field.

In addition to Warning's performance, the Titans also received 13 points and seven rebounds from Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells), six points, five rebounds and three blocked shots from Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson) and three points, six rebounds and two assists from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha).

UW-Whitewater had a pair of double-figure scorers in the game, Melvin Williams with 13 points and Angelo Griffin with 11.

UW-Oshkosh finished the game shooting 47.1 percent (16-34) from the field and 67.9 percent (19-28) from the free throw line, while UW-Whitewater was 34.5 percent (19-55) accurate from the field and 42.9 percent (9-21) correct from the free throw stripe. The Titans outrebounded the Warhawks by a 35-27 tally.

Pointers Hold Off Titans' Late Rally

A gallant second half comeback by the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team came up short as the Titans dropped a 63-61 decision to league-leading and nationally-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday (Feb. 17) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Stevens Point (20-4/11-4 WIAC), which remained atop the WIAC standings with UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater after the win, led UW-Oshkosh (11-13/7-8) by 19 points early in the second half before hanging on for the victory as the Titans' Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem) missed a short jumper from the lane as time expired.

The Pointers used a red-hot shooting performance in the first half to open up a 44-24 lead at intermission. After making just one of its first five shots from the field, UW-Stevens Point made 16 of its next 20, including nine straight at one point, to end the opening period. The Pointers shot 68 percent (17-25) from the field in the first half and appeared to be comfortably ahead, but were held to a season-low 19 points in the second half.

Both teams started the second half slow. With the Pointers holding a 48-29 lead with 15:22 remaining, the Titans scored the next seven points and started whittling away at the deficit. After UW-Oshkosh cut the lead to seven points with 7:35 left, the Pointers pushed their advantage back to 11 points at 58-47 with 6:05 remaining.

UW-Oshkosh’s Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) hit back-to-back three-pointers from about five feet above the top of the key and then set up Pete Warning (So. • Shiocton) for a three-point play on the next possession to pull the Titans to within 60-56 with 3:56 remaining.

Following a missed shot by the Pointers, UW-Oshkosh’s Chad Doedens (Fr. • Cedarburg) had a putback and was fouled to cut UW-Stevens Point's lead to 60-59 with 3:24 left. Jason Kalsow scored on a jumper from the lane on the Pointers’ next possession for a three-point lead.

Neither team scored again until Warning cut UW-Stevens Point's lead to 62-61 on a rebound basket with 14 seconds left to play. The Pointers’ Neal Krajnik then made one of two free throws with 10 seconds left before Fernholz drove the length of the court, made a move into the lane and missed a seven-foot shot at the buzzer.

Kalsow had 23 points, six assists and six rebounds to lead the Pointers, who have won eight of their last nine games and won their third road game in eight days. Eric Maus had 14 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.

Capelle led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 15 points, while David Gershenzon (So. • Glenview) added 14 and Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) 10. The Titans also received nine points from Warning and five points, seven rebounds and four assists from Fernholz.

UW-Stevens Point concluded the game shooting 53.3 percent (24-45) from the field, the best mark against a UW-Oshkosh team this season. UW-Oshkosh shot 43.1 percent (22-51) from the field, aided by 47.4 percent (9-19) accuracy behind the three-point line.

UW-Oshkosh is currently tied with UW-Stout for fifth place in the WIAC standings. The Titans can grab the fourth seed in next week's WIAC Tournament if they win at UW-La Crosse on Saturday and have UW-Platteville, UW-Stout and UW-Superior all lose. UW-Oshkosh is assured of being the fourth, fifth or sixth seed for a league event that it has won the past two seasons.

UW-Stevens Point, ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, will host UW-Superior on Saturday and would become the fifth team in WIAC history to claim five straight league titles with a victory. If UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater all win on Saturday, the Pointers would be the second seed for the upcoming WIAC Tournament. They need a victory and UW-River Falls to lose to UW-Platteville in order to gain the top seed.

Second Half Defensive Effort Lifts Titans To Win

Limiting UW-Eau Claire to just 14 points and 16 percent (4-25) field goal shooting in the second half, the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team used outstanding defensive play over the game's final 20 minutes to defeat the Blugolds, 57-47, on Tuesday (Feb. 10) in Eau Claire. The win was the Titans' 14th in their last 18 meetings with the Blugolds.

UW-Eau Claire (10-13/4-10 WIAC) led UW-Oshkosh (13-9/7-6 WIAC) nearly the entire first half, including a high of six points on four occasions. Tied at six, Casey Drake scored seven of the Blugolds' next nine points to put UW-Eau Claire ahead 15-9 at the 11:29 mark of the first half. UW-Eau Claire kept UW-Oshkosh at bay for the remainder of the opening period, with a last-second shot by Dan Archambault giving the Blugolds a 33-30 lead at intermission.

Archambault, who scored a team-high 13 points in the first frame, started the second half by giving UW-Eau Claire a 35-30 lead at the 18:41 mark of the period. UW-Oshkosh responded to its largest deficit of the second half by going on a 10-2 scoring run to lead 40-37 with 13:24 left to play. The Titans held the advantage the remainder of the contest, with a game-ending 11-2 scoring run sealing the victory after the Blugolds cut their deficit to 46-45 with 5:48 to go.

Counting nine points in the first half, Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem) led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 12. Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) added 11 points, including seven in the second half, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing off four assists. The Titans also received eight points, four assists and three rebounds from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha), eight points, three rebounds and two assists from Dain Christensen (Jr. • Waupaca) and six points, seven rebounds and six blocked shots from Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson).

Archambault paced UW-Eau Claire in scoring with 18 points, while Drake added 12, including 10 in the first half.

UW-Oshkosh shot 44.2 percent (19-43) from the field and 70.6 percent (12-17) from the free throw line in the contest. UW-Eau Claire matched its season low by shooting 32.7 percent (17-52) from the field. The Blugolds were 8-of-10 (80 percent) shooting from the free throw line. From long distance, UW-Oshkosh was 7-of-17 (41.2 percent) shooting behind the three-point line and UW-Eau Claire 5-of-14 (35.7 percent).

The game featured only 18 turnovers, with UW-Eau Claire having eight. The Blugolds won the rebounding battle by a 33-31 count after holding a 16-11 advantage in the first half.

Pioneers Capture Titans

Brad Reitzner scored 10 of his game-high 25 points in the final four-plus minutes of the contest to lead the UW-Platteville men's basketball team to a 63-55 victory over UW-Oshkosh on Tuesday (Feb. 3) in Platteville. The victory was the ninth in the last 11 games for the Pioneers, who now occupy second place in the WIAC standings with an 8-4 league record.

Following a tie at 47, the 12th deadlock of the contest, Reitzner gave UW-Platteville (14-7) a 50-47 edge on his three-point basket with 4:09 left in the game. He then handed the Pioneers a 56-51 lead on three free throws with two minutes left, a 61-55 advantage on two free throws with 19 seconds remaining and a 63-55 profit on two free throws with five seconds to play. UW-Platteville trailed only three times in the second half, with the latest being a 34-32 count with 15:15 left in the period.

UW-Oshkosh (12-8/6-5 WIAC) took a 27-26 advantage to intermission by holding Reitzner, the WIAC's third-leading scorer (17.7), to just five first-half points. The Titans led most of the opening stanza, including a 27-21 tally with 3:10 left before the break. UW-Oshkosh trailed only four times in the first half, early deficits of 2-0, 10-8, 12-10 and 14-12.

UW-Oshkosh, which defeated UW-Platteville earlier in the season, 72-64, was led in scoring by Chad Doedens' (Fr. • Cedarburg) career-best 16 points. The Titans also received 11 points and four rebounds from Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells), eight points and nine rebounds from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) and seven points, six blocked shots and four rebounds from Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson).

In addition to Reitzner's 25 points and five rebounds, UW-Platteville also benefited by the 21 points of Brandon Temperly and the eight points and eight rebounds of Mark Gossens.

UW-Oshkosh shot 46.8 percent (22-47) from the field and 66.7 percent (8-12) from the free throw line, while UW-Platteville shot 42.3 percent (22-52) from the field and 81.3 percent (13-16) from the charity stripe. The Titans were 3-of-10 shooting (30 percent) behind the three-point line, while the Pioneers were 6-of-17 (35.3 percent).

UW-Oshkosh won the rebounding battle, 31-26, but lost the turnover count, 12-7. The Pioneers had only one turnover in the final 24 minutes of play.

Yellowjackets Sting Titans

The UW-Superior men's basketball team pulled away from UW-Oshkosh midway through the first half and coasted to a 76-58 victory over the Titans on Saturday (Jan. 31) in Superior.

UW-Superior (9-10/4-7 WIAC), which dropped a 75-60 decision to UW-Oshkosh (12-7/6-4 WIAC) on January 10, outscored the Titans, 30-15, over the final 12 minutes of the first half to lead 44-31 at intermission. UW-Oshkosh took an early 6-2 lead in the game and held a 16-14 advantage before UW-Superior went on its first-half scoring spree.

The Yellowjackets, who made as many field goals (17) as the Titans attempted in the first half, were sparked in the opening period by the 13 points of both Bob Riley and Marc Rothschadl. UW-Superior had seven three-point baskets in the opening frame, including three by Rothschadl.

UW-Oshkosh's comeback bid in the second half was hampered by 28 percent (7-25) field goal shooting. The Titans trailed 52-39 with 13:22 left in the game, but the Yellowjackets put the Titans away by scoring 12 of the next 15 points for a 64-42 advantage. Cody Kastern had 12 of UW-Superior's 32 points in the second half, while Riley added seven.

Riley scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, both season bests, to lead UW-Superior. The Yellowjackets also received 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals from Kastern and 15 points and four assists from Rothschadl.

Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 13 points, while Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem) and Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) added nine each. Pederson also grabbed six rebounds and dished off three assists, while Capelle totaled four rebounds and three assists and Fernholz four rebounds and two assists.

UW-Superior handed UW-Oshkosh its worst defeat of the season by shooting 51.9 percent (28-54) from the field, sinking nine three-point baskets (21 attempts), posting a 31-29 advantage in rebounds and committing just 10 turnovers. The Yellowjackets' marksmanship from the field was the best against the Titans this season, with the previous high being 48.1 percent (25-52) by UW-Stevens Point on January 21.

UW-Oshkosh concluded the game shooting 40.5 percent (17-42) from the field and 80.8 percent (21-26) from the free throw line. The Titans, who had 13 turnovers in the contest, made just three of their 10 (30 percent) field goal attempts behind the three-point line.

Titans Again Knock Off WIAC Pre-Season Pick

Dain Christensen's (Jr. • Waupaca) three-point basket with 23 seconds remaining in the game provided the margin of victory as the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team fought off UW-River Falls, 65-62, on Saturday (Jan. 24) in Kolf Sports Center. Coupled with a 60-59 overtime victory over the Falcons on December 6, UW-Oshkosh has now won 10 of its last 13 games against UW-River Falls, the pre-season choice to capture this year's WIAC championship.

UW-Oshkosh (12-6/6-3 WIAC) trailed UW-River Falls (11-6/5-4 WIAC) by a 34-33 count at intermission, but a 14-4 scoring run by the Titans to start the second half put them ahead 47-38 with 13:46 left to play. UW-River Falls then countered UW-Oshkosh's scoring spree with a 15-2 scoring run to take a 53-49 lead with 7:23 remaining. The two teams played to deadlocks at 55, 57 and 62 the rest of the way, with the Falcons' Hans Hoeg tying the contest at 62 on a layup with 45 seconds left. After Christensen scored the eventual game-winning points, UW-River Falls, aided by three offensive rebounds, missed three field goal attempts and one free throw try in the final 10 seconds of the contest.

Despite 21 first-half points by UW-River Falls' All-American Rich Melzer, UW-Oshkosh was able to keep the score close in the opening period. The game was tied six times in the first half, with the Titans owning a lead of 15-10 at the 12:59 mark of the stanza and the Falcons an advantage of 34-30 at the 1:25 mark.

Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 17 points, while Christensen added 12 and Pete Warning (So. • Shiocton) 10. The Titans also benefited from the seven points, 11 rebounds and three assists of Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) and the seven points, eight assists and six rebounds of Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem).

Melzer, on 12 of 22 shooting from the field and 10 of 12 shooting from the free throw line, paced UW-River Falls in scoring with 34 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds and dished off two assists.

UW-Oshkosh shot 49.1 percent (26-53) from the field, including 40 percent (8-20) behind the three-point line. The Titans, however, were just five of 11 shooting (45.5 percent) from the free throw line. UW-River Falls shot 46.2 percent (24-52) from the field and 78.6 percent (11-14) from the charity stripe. The Falcons were three of nine shooting (33.3 percent) beyond the three-point line.

The game featured only 18 turnovers, with UW-Oshkosh owning 10. The Titans, who remain one victory off the WIAC lead, won the rebounding battle by a 31-28 tally.

Titans Handcuff Blugolds

Every trip down the floor it seems the young, but getting older rapidly, UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team is figuring itself out.

“I’m pleased with the way they’re carrying themselves,” head coach Ted Van Dellen said after his Titans smothered UW-Eau Claire, 65-45, Wednesday (Jan. 14) at the Kolf Sports Center. “I’m sure we’ll have some bumps in the road but we’re doing OK. The guys are not thinking and playing anymore, they’re just playing.”

Ten days ago, Van Dellen wasn’t sure where his team was headed after a brutal loss to UW-Stout — UW-Oshkosh’s fourth loss in five games. But a solid win over UW-Superior on Saturday (Jan. 10) and even more impressive win over UW-Eau Claire has brightened Van Dellen’s mood considerably.

“When our offense kicks in and our defense maintains, we’re going to get some people,” Van Dellen said.

And they got the Blugolds Wednesday, especially on the defensive end.

Indeed, the Titans probably won this game with a remarkable 14-minute defensive stretch in the first half that turned what figured to be a tight game into a relatively easy win.

Trailing 14-8 with 14:31 left in the first half, UW-Oshkosh ratcheted up its defense to levels it probably didn’t even know it had. For the remainder of the second half, UW-Eau Claire was held to one field goal and three total points while missing 18 of its 19 shots.

By the time halftime came, UW-Oshkosh had wrestled away control of the game and led 25-17.

“They were hitting some jump shots early,” Van Dellen said. “But usually they don’t stay hitting those jump shots. This was the best offense we’ve faced so far and we did a nice job of adjusting.”

In the second half, UW-Eau Claire started quickly and pulled to within three, 27-24, early. But again the defensive intensity increased and the Titans used an 18-3 run over the next seven minutes to reclaim control.

“We’re starting to flow a lot better,” said freshman forward Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells), who finished with 21 points. “Our confidence is a lot better. It was just a matter of getting comfortable.”

As for the Titans defense, it has been bolstered impressively by 7-1 Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson) who had his best overall game of the season. He finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots though he forced UW-Eau Claire to redirect several other shots.

“It helps to have a 7-1 guy behind you who puts balls into the sixth row every time,” Capelle said.

The Titans also got a solid performance off the bench from sophomore Pete Warning (So. • Shiocton), who finished with 13 points, the second time in three games he’s scored that many points.

“This is a good time of year to be playing year to be playing well,” Van Dellen said. “We have six more weekends of the season left and now if we can just hold on.”

Second Half Scoring Runs Key Titans' Win

Sometimes one shot in one situation can change a season. For the struggling UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team, maybe that shot came Saturday (Jan. 10).

Jim Capelle’s (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) three-pointer that hit the front of the rim, bounced up and finally fell in offered the spark the beleaguered Titans needed as they beat UW-Superior, 75-60, at Kolf Sports Center in a WIAC game they desperately needed.

“Sometimes that’s what turns things around,” UW-Oshkosh head coach Ted Van Dellen said of Capelle's bucket that started a 15-7 run late in the first half that continued into the second half. “You never know where it’s going to turn around but it always breaks at some point.”

Capelle finished with 15 points and eight rebounds and Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) , who was held scoreless in the first half, added 14 points and 11 rebounds. David Gershenzon (So. • Glenview, Ill.) came off the bench and scored 13 points, including nine in a crucial stage of the second half.

Indeed after that basket, UW-Oshkosh played the kind of confident, relaxed basketball Van Dellen has been looking for during a dreadful streak of four losses in five games.

“We’ve been very robotic but we’re starting to look a lot better,” Van Dellen said.

UW-Oshkosh (9-5/3-2 WIAC) fashioned a 25-25 halftime tie with Superior (6-7/2-4 WIAC) and then went on two big runs in the second half to pull away.

Warhawks Trip Titans

The UW-Oshkosh basketball went into Krachel Fieldhouse on the UW-Whitewater campus knowing that its game against the Warhawks would be a battle. UW-Whitewater capitalized on poor shooting in the second half by UW-Oshkosh to put away the Titans 64-50 on Wednesday (January 7).

The first half proved to be a series of runs for both teams. UW-Whitewater slowly built their lead up to six at three different points in the first half at 11-5, 13-7, and 15-9. But UW-Oshkosh just didn't sit back and let the Warhawks take control of the game. The Titans used tough defense and steady offense to slowly cut UW-Whitewater's lead. The Titans took their first lead of the game 28-27 at the 1:29 mark of the first half on a lay-up by center Pete Warning (So. • Shiocton). But UW-Whitewater came right back and got a lay-up by guard Tony Miggins to give the Warhawks the halftime lead of 29-28.

UW-Oshkosh offensively was led in the first by Warning with eight points, three rebounds. Also contributing in the first half was Nathan Wesener (Fr. • Hilbert) with six points, forward Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) with five points, five rebounds, and five points from guard Chad Doedens (Fr. • Cedarburg). UW-Whitewater was paced by guard Matt Jones with 10 points. Forward Angelo Griffin and guard Melvin Williams both put in seven points.

The second half proved to be trying for UW-Oshkosh. The Titans came out shooting cold while UW-Whitewater was hot. The Warhawks used a 10-0 run starting at the 14:47 mark to blow the game wide open. UW-Oshkosh which shot 34.7 percent from the field in the game didn't make a field goal until the 9:21 mark on a lay-up by guard Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem). The Titans also shot 8-16 from the charity stripe which furthered the struggles.

UW-Oshkosh never got closer than nine the rest of the way, en route to the 14 point defeat.

Leading the Titans offensively was Warning with 13 points, 3 rebounds. Doedens contributed nine points, five rebounds, Pederson had eight points and a game high nine rebounds, and Fernholz had four points, while dishing out a game high five assists. Leading the way for the Warhawks was Jones with 18 points, seven rebounds. Griffin and Williams both finished the game with 11 points.

Titans Slow Down Buccaneers

Scoring runs of 19-8 to end the first half and 16-5 to begin the second helped the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team rout Beloit College, 74-49, on Tuesday (Dec. 30) in Beloit.

Beloit College (1-7) scored the first four points of the game before UW-Oshkosh (8-3) took a 5-4 lead and the advantage for good on a three-point basket by Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) at the 17:08 mark of the first half. Holding a 13-12 advantage, the Titans closed the opening period with a 19-8 scoring run to lead 32-20 at intermission.

Following the required 15-minute break, UW-Oshkosh continued to change the score at a rapid pace as it counted 16 of the next 21 points to take a 48-25 lead at the 13:13 mark of the second half. The Titans led by 24-plus points for the final 6:22 of the contest, including 74-46 with two minutes remaining.

UW-Oshkosh dominated nearly all facets of the contest as it defeated Beloit College for the sixth time in seven meetings. The Titans shot 54.7 percent (29-53) from the field, including 52.6 (10-19) behind the three-point line, and 75 percent (6-8) from the free throw line. Beloit College shot just 39 percent (16-41) from the field, including only 25 percent (2-8) behind the three-point line, and 65.2 percent (15-23) from the free throw stripe. UW-Oshkosh also held advantages of 31-23 in rebounds, 17-11 in assists, 9-13 in turnovers and 4-3 in blocked shots.

UW-Oshkosh scored 30 of its 74 points off the bench as David Gershenzon (So. • Glenview, Ill.) entered the game to tally a career-high 16 points, including 12 on four three-point baskets. The Titans also received 11 points from starter Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson) and nine points each from starters Capelle, Chad Doedens (Fr. • Cedarburg) and Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha). Gibson collected eight of the Titans' rebounds, while Pederson grabbed six.

Beloit College, which entered the game averaging 77.4 points and 65.4 field goal attempts per contest, was led in scoring by Josh Hinz's 16 points and Tyson Chapman's 12. Hinz entered the contest averaging 28.8 points per game.

UW-Oshkosh completed its 2003-04 regular season non-conference schedule with its win over Beloit College. The Titans are now 75-6 in their last regular season non-conference game, including 6-3 this year.

Eagles Hold On To Nip Titans

The Edgewood College men's basketball team scored only five points in the final 5:42 of the game, but the output was enough to hold off UW-Oshkosh, 56-52, on Sunday (Dec. 28) in Kolf Sports Center.

Tied at 41, Edgewood College (6-4) went on a 10-3 scoring run to take a 51-44 lead with 5:42 left in the contest. UW-Oshkosh (7-3) then scored five unanswered points as Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) made a three-point basket with 3:53 remaining and Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) a pair of free throws with 2:01 left to cut its deficit to 51-49.

Edgewood College held off UW-Oshkosh's comeback bid with a pair of big shots down the stretch, a three-point basket by Luke Sadowski with 1:27 left in the game and a two-point basket by Randy Kolinske with 23 seconds remaining. Sadowski's basket came with one second left on the shot clock and Kolinske's with two. Sandwiched between those Edgewood College baskets was a three-point bomb by UW-Oshkosh's Capelle with 56 seconds left.

The Titans had three six-point leads in the first half, with the latest being a 14-8 count with 12:40 remaining in the opening period. Edgewood College rallied to tie the contest at 22 and then outscored UW-Oshkosh, 6-4, in the final 2:52 of the first half to take a 28-27 advantage to intermission. Sadowski and Pederson both scored 10 points in the first half to lead their respective team in scoring.

Pederson scored 18 points in the game to lead UW-Oshkosh in scoring, while Capelle totaled 12 points and Chad Doedens (Fr. • Cedarburg) nine. Pederson and Capelle each grabbed a game-high eight rebounds as the Titans outrebounded the Eagles by a 33-27 tally.

Edgewood College, which had lost 10 straight games to UW-Oshkosh, had three double-figure scorers as Sadowski netted 15 points, Kolinske 14 and Gregory Blaska 11. Blaska also had a team-best seven rebounds. The Eagles had only nine turnovers in the contest, eight less than the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh shot just 38.5 percent (15-39) from the field, including only 18.8 percent (3-16) behind the three-point line. The Titans were 19 of 22 (86.4 percent) shooting from the free throw line. Edgewood College's shooting marks were 38.2 percent (21-55) from the field, including 33.3 percent (5-15) behind the three-point line, and 75 percent (9-12) from the free throw stripe.

Pointers Top Titans To Win Las Vegas Tournament

In their first regular season non-conference meeting since the 1929-30 season, the UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team defeated UW-Oshkosh, 63-55, in the championship game of the Adidas Desert Shootout held Monday (Dec. 22) in Las Vegas, Nev.

The contest, the first played between the two WIAC rivals outside the state of Wisconsin, was tied 26-26 at intermission after the Pointers (9-0) enjoyed a 15-8 lead and the Titans (7-2) a 26-20 advantage.

The game was tied 35-35 with 13 minutes left in the game before Eric Maus and Neal Krajnik hit consecutive two-point baskets to put the Pointers ahead for good. The Titans cut their deficit to 41-40, but Brian Bauer drained two three-point baskets around a pair of UW-Oshkosh free throws to give the Pointers a 47-42 lead with 7:15 remaining in the contest.

UW-Oshkosh’s Kyle Peterson (So. • Waukesha) scored on a driving layup and was fouled to cut UW-Stevens Point's lead to 51-47 with 2:55 left, but Nick Bennett responded with a short jumper and then hit two free throws to push the Pointers' advantage to 55-47 with 1:15 remaining. UW-Stevens Point missed four of its next six free throws, but rebounded two of the errant shots to seal its second win over UW-Oshkosh in four meetings.

UW-Stevens Point's Jason Kalsow led all scorers with 21 points, while Bennett added 13 points and Krajnik 10 for the Pointers. Kalsow also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds during his 39-plus minutes of action. UW-Stevens Point, which entered the game ranked second in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, committed just four turnovers in the game.

Pederson paced UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 13 points, while Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) and Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson) added 12 each. The Titans outrebounded the Pointers by a 38-33 count, with Pederson grabbing nine, Gibson seven and Capelle six.

The teams are both 2-0 in the WIAC and meet again on January 21 in Stevens Point and February 17 in Oshkosh.

Wildcats Unable To Catch Titans In Las Vegas

Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) recorded his third career double-double as the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team held on to capture a 60-54 victory over State University of New York-Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) in a semifinal round contest of the Adidas Desert Shootout held Sunday (Dec. 21) in Las Vegas, Nev.

The victory advances UW-Oshkosh (7-1) to Monday's (Dec. 22) championship game, where it will meet WIAC-rival UW-Stevens Point (8-0). The Pointers qualified for their first regular season non-conference contest with the Titans since the 1929-30 season by defeating Kalamazoo College (Mich.), 70-52.

Pederson, who also had a double-double in the Titans' season-opening win over St. Norbert College on November 25, sparked UW-Oshkosh to its win over SUNYIT by scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. He also received help from Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells), who scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem), who scored 10 points and collected four rebounds.

SUNYIT (4-3) was led by Nick Grimmer, who scored 25 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Malcolm Stanton, who scored 12 points, recorded four steals and grabbed two rebounds.

UW-Oshkosh jumped to a 29-17 halftime lead before SUNYIT tied the game at 47 with just under seven minutes remaining. Leading 56-52, UW-Oshkosh secured the win as Fernholz made four of five free throws in the final 35 seconds. Fernholz's lone miss snapped a personal string of 27 consecutive free throws.

UW-Oshkosh shot 46.9 percent (23-49) from the field against its first-time opponent, but was just 21.4 percent (3-14) behind the three-point line. The Titans made 11 of their 17 free throw tries for 64.7 percent accuracy. SUNYIT was 32.2 percent (19-59) accurate from the field, 23.8 percent (5-21) behind the three-point line and 52.4 percent (11-21) from the free throw line.

Titans Tame Lions

The UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team held Finlandia University (Mich.) to just 17 first half points as it rolled to an 80-54 victory over the Lions on Monday (Dec. 15) in Kolf Sports Center.

Led by a career-high 21 points and five rebounds from Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells), 15 points and nine rebounds from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha), five points and a career-high 11 rebounds from Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson) and five points and five rebounds from Pete Warning (So. • Shiocton), all front court performers, UW-Oshkosh used its superior size to control the game's flow.

UW-Oshkosh (6-1) held a slim 7-5 advantage over Finlandia University (1-9) before going on a 22-3 scoring run to claim a 29-8 lead at the 7:19 mark of the first half. The Titans took a 39-17 lead to intermission as they shot 54.8 percent (17-31) from the field and compiled a 27-11 rebounding advantage. The Lions shot just 24.1 percent (7-29) from the field in the opening period, including just 13.3 percent (2-15) behind the three-point line. Pederson spirited UW-Oshkosh's first half performance by scoring 12 points and collecting seven rebounds.

The second half was nearly a standstill as the Titans outscored the Lions, 41-37. Finlandia University cut its deficit to 65-50 with 5:18 left in the game before UW-Oshkosh ended the contest with a 15-4 scoring run. Both teams shot the basketball better in the second half as the Titans made 57.1 percent (16-28) of their field goal attempts and the Lions 52 percent (13-25).

UW-Oshkosh concluded the game shooting 55.9 percent (33-59) from the field and 84.6 percent (11-13) from the free throw line, while Finlandia University shot 37 percent (20-54) from the field and 75 percent (9-12) from the free throw stripe. The Lions' field goal accuracy was hampered by just 19.2 percent (5-26) shooting behind the three-point line. UW-Oshkosh won the rebounding battle by a 41-21 tally.

Finlandia University, which is winless in four meetings against UW-Oshkosh, received 12 points and three rebounds from Victor Harrington and nine points each from Nick Forgette and Kyle Miron.

Second Half Marksmanship Keys Titans' Win

The UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team overcame a subpar shooting performance in the first half to pull away and defeat Marian College, 71-50, on Saturday (Dec. 13) in Albee Hall. UW-Oshkosh moved the non-conference game to its former residence because of winter commencement that was held earlier in the day in the Titans' current home of Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (5-1) trailed only once in the contest, a 22-21 count with 4:24 left in the first half. The Titans then outscored the Sabres (3-5), 5-2, during the rest of the opening period to lead 26-24 at intermission.

Both teams struggled shooting the basketball in the first half as UW-Oshkosh made only seven of its 23 field goal attempts (30.4 percent) and Marian College just seven of its 30 (23.3 percent). The two squads combined to make only three of their 16 three-point shots in the first half, with UW-Oshkosh connecting on just one of its 10 attempts.

In the second half, UW-Oshkosh zeroed in on its target and the improved marksmanship helped the Titans outscore the Sabres by a 45-26 tally. The Titans opened the second period with a 12-4 scoring run to lead 38-28 with 14:51 remaining in the contest and later added a 23-8 scoring spree to lead 66-46 with 3:08 left.

UW-Oshkosh improved its marksmanship in all areas during the second half, shooting 55.6 percent (15-27) from the field, 50 percent (4-8) behind the three-point line and 91.7 percent (11-12) from the free throw stripe. Marian College shot 37.9 percent (11-29) from the field in the second half and 57.1 percent (4-8) from the free throw line.

Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) had a career-best 19 points, including 14 in the second half, to pace the Titans in scoring. He also grabbed eight rebounds to tie a career high, recorded two steals and dished off two assists. UW-Oshkosh also acquired 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals from Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem), eight points and eight rebounds from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) and six points and four rebounds from Nathan Wesener (Fr. • Hilbert).

Marian College, which lost for the 15th straight time to UW-Oshkosh, was led by the 12 points and six rebounds of Femi Jones and the nine points and six rebounds of Titus Redmond.

Titans Rally In Overtime To Net Falcons

Jim Capelle's (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) layup with five seconds left in overtime capped a furious UW-Oshkosh comeback as the Titans stunned pre-season WIAC championship favorite UW-River Falls, 60-59, on Saturday (Dec. 6) in River Falls.

UW-River Falls (2-4/0-2 WIAC) led 58-51 with 1:07 left in overtime before Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem) began UW-Oshkosh's comeback with a three-point basket at the 1:06 mark. Courtesy of four missed free throw attempts by the Falcons in the final 58 seconds, the Titans (4-1/2-0 WIAC) closed the extra period with a 6-1 scoring run. Prior to his game-winning basket, Capelle made a jump shot with 30 seconds left to cut UW-Oshkosh's deficit to 59-58.

The two teams went to overtime tied at 49 as UW-River Falls' Billy Halter matched the score on a jump shot with 1:09 left in the second half. UW-Oshkosh had taken a 49-47 lead on Pete Warning's (So. • Shiocton) jump shot with 2:02 remaining in regulation. The game was tied seven times in the second period, with a UW-River Falls 32-28 lead being the largest point differential between the two teams in the final 20-minute frame.

UW-Oshkosh took a 28-26 lead to intermission after ending the first half with a 6-4 scoring run. The opening period saw the score tied six times, with neither team holding more than a four-point advantage. David Gershenzon (So. • Glenview, Ill.) scored 10 points for the Titans in the first half.

Capelle led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 16 points, while Gershenzon added 15 off the bench to tie a career best. Capelle also grabbed six rebounds and dished off two assists. The Titans also received 11 points, two rebounds and two assists from Fernholz, six points and six rebounds from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) and four points and six rebounds from Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson).

Rich Melzer paced UW-River Falls with 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots, while Micah Helfrey added 12 points, three assists and three rebounds.

UW-Oshkosh won the contest despite shooting 35 percent (21-60) from the field. The Titans were 12-of-16 (75 percent) shooting from the free throw stripe and 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) behind the three-point line. UW-River Falls shot 45.3 percent (24-53) from the field, 25 percent (5-20) behind the three-point line and 42.9 percent (6-14) from the free throw line.

Titans Take Pioneers In WIAC Opener

Receiving significant contributions from all eight of its players that appeared on the hardwood, UW-Oshkosh defeated UW-Platteville, 72-64, in a men's basketball contest held Wednesday (Dec. 3) in Kolf Sports Center. It was the WIAC opener for both teams, with UW-Oshkosh winning its inaugural league contest for the third straight year.

The first period proved to be a struggle for UW-Oshkosh (3-1/1-0 WIAC) as the Titans trailed for nearly half of the 20-minute frame. UW-Oshkosh fell behind 12-7 with 9:26 left in the opening half before staging an 18-9 scoring run to lead 25-21 at intermission.

Both teams had difficulty aiming the basketball into the basket in the first half, with UW-Oshkosh shooting just 35.7 percent (10-28) from the field and UW-Platteville (2-3/0-1 WIAC) only 30 percent (9-30). The Titans concluded the game shooting 48.2 percent (27-56) from the field after an impressive 60.7 percent (17-28) effort in the second half. UW-Platteville shot 42.9 percent (15-35) from the field in the second half to end the game at 36.9 percent (24-65).

UW-Oshkosh never trailed in the second half, but needed a 21-13 scoring run in the final 4:21 of the contest to put UW-Platteville away. The Pioneers had tied the game at 51 with a little over four minutes to play before the Titans' Dain Christensen (Jr. • Waupaca) made a three-point basket with 3:56 remaining to put UW-Oshkosh ahead to stay.

David Gershenzon (So. • Glenview, Ill.) came off the bench to lead UW-Oshkosh in scoring with a career-best 15 points. He also grabbed three rebounds and made five of his six free throw attempts. The Titans also received 13 points from Christensen, 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals from Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells), nine points, five rebounds and seven assists from Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem), nine points and five rebounds from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha), seven points and seven rebounds from Nathan Wesener (Fr. • Hilbert) and four points and two rebounds from Pete Warning (So. • Shiocton).

UW-Platteville had a trio of double-figure scorers as Brad Reitzner counted 19 points, Frank McGettigan 14 and Tom Uppena 13.

Second Half Play Keys Titans' Victory

The UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team used a strong second half effort, especially in the final 12 minutes of the contest, to defeat Luther College (Iowa), 60-48, on Saturday (Nov. 29) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (2-1), which led 28-26 at intermission, controlled both ends of the court in the second period as it outscored Luther College (1-2), 32-22. The Norse were outscored 25-10 in the last 12:16 of the game and held without a point during the final 1:46.

UW-Oshkosh took a 39-38 lead on a layup by Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem) at the 10:51 mark of the second half and remained in charge the rest of the way. The Titans' largest lead down the stretch was 12 points, the game's final score.

UW-Oshkosh limited its second-time opponent to just 28.6 percent (6-21) shooting from the field in the second half. The Titans also outrebounded the Norse, 18-12, in the second period and forced nine turnovers. UW-Oshkosh's second half performance included 47.6 percent (10-21) shooting from the field and just three turnovers.

UW-Oshkosh led for most of the first half, with its only deficit being a 26-25 count at the 1:56 mark of the period. First half action also included ties at two, four, 22 and 24. The Titans also had a pair of eight-point leads in the first half, 12-4 at the 15:02 mark and 15-7 at 13:49.

Dain Christensen (Jr. • Waupaca) led UW-Oshkosh in scoring with a career-high 17 points, including 15 on five three-point baskets. The Titans also received 12 points and two rebounds from Fernholz, 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists from Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) and six points, six rebounds and four assists from Chad Doedens (Fr. • Cedarburg).

Drew Devine paced Luther College, which defeated 2003 NCAA Division III Final Four participant Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) for its lone win this season, with 13 points. The Norse also got 10 points and five rebounds from Jake Lappe.

UW-Oshkosh concluded the game shooting 46.7 percent (21-45) from the field, while Luther College shot 35 percent (14-40). The Titans outrebounded the Norse in the contest, 33-23.

Vikings' Late Scoring Run Holds Off Titans

Aided by a late 10-1 scoring run, the Lawrence University men's basketball team pulled away to defeat UW-Oshkosh, 73-58, on Friday (Nov. 28) in Appleton.

Lawrence University (2-1), which became only the fourth team to defeat UW-Oshkosh in its last 74 regular season non-conference games, led the Titans (1-1), 54-50, before scoring 10 of the next 11 points to take a 64-51 lead with 3:11 left in the contest. The teams exchanged baskets the remainder of the way as the Vikings held on to end a three-game losing streak to the Titans.

The first half of the contest featured 11 lead changes, with the Titans' biggest lead being one point on five occasions (3-2, 5-4, 7-6, 13-12 and 18-17). The Vikings' largest advantage in the opening stanza was a 27-20 count with 2:09 left before intermission.

Despite being outrebounded by 33-17 tally, Lawrence University was efficient on both ends of the court. The Vikings shot 47.9 percent (23-48) from the field, including eight three-point baskets in 18 attempts, and 79.2 percent (19-24) from the free throw line. Lawrence University committed no turnovers in the game, while forcing UW-Oshkosh into 15. The Vikings recorded 11 steals in the hardwood battle, the 43rd between the two neighboring schools.

UW-Oshkosh made 22 of its 43 (51.2 percent) field goal attempts in the game, with six baskets in 15 tries (40 percent) coming from behind the three-point line. The Titans made eight of their 11 (72.7 percent) tosses from the free throw line.

Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) and Chad Doedens (Fr. • Cedarburg) paced UW-Oshkosh in scoring with 15 points each. Both players made three three-point baskets in the contest, with Capelle also grabbing four rebounds and Doedens two. The Titans also received eight points and eight rebounds from Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha), eight points and five rebounds from Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson) and six points, six rebounds and five assists from Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem).

Lawrence University had three players in double-digit scoring, Ron Nenahlo with 20 points, Chris Braier with 18 and Chris MacGillis with 11. Braier also grabbed eight rebounds and dished off three assists, both team bests.

Titans Capture Green Knights In Season Opener

Kyle Pederson (So. • Waukesha) scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, both career highs, as the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team opened its 2003-04 season with a 73-65 victory over St. Norbert College on Tuesday (Nov. 25) in De Pere.

Pederson, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds in last year's season-opening win over St. Norbert College, tallied 11 points to help UW-Oshkosh begin Tuesday's game with a 27-9 scoring run. Also fueling the Titans' quick start was Jim Capelle (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells), who scored nine of his 15 points in the first 10 minutes of the contest.

St. Norbert College (0-2), behind Aaron Faulkner's 10 points, countered UW-Oshkosh's (1-0) early domination by scoring 23 of the next 32 points to cut its deficit to 36-32 at intermission.

UW-Oshkosh, which led the NCAA Division III in field goal marksmanship a year ago, shot 61.1 percent from the field in the first half by making 11 of its 18 attempts. The Titans committed 10 turnovers in the opening period, but kept the Green Knights at bay in the first half by connecting on 12 of their 15 free throw tries and posting a 17-8 rebounding advantage.

UW-Oshkosh also began the second half strong, scoring 14 of the first 17 points to take a 50-35 lead with 12:23 left in the game. The Titans had their double-digit advantage dwindle to 59-54 with 6:26 remaining in the contest before engaging on a 10-5 scoring run to lead 69-59 with 41 seconds left.

In addition to Pederson and Capelle, who also grabbed seven rebounds in his collegiate debut, the Titans also received nine points, eight rebounds and six assists from Andy Fernholz (Jr. • West Salem) and six points, five blocked shots and one steal from Kerry Gibson (Fr. • Jefferson). UW-Oshkosh concluded the game shooting 58.3 percent (21-36) from the field and 84.8 percent (28-33) from the free throw line. The Titans also recorded an impressive 39-13 rebounding advantage over the Green Knights.

Faulkner led St. Norbert College in scoring with 19 points, while Brandon Hansen added 16. The Green Knights shot 38.2 percent (21-55) from the field, with 11 of their 21 baskets counting three points. St. Norbert College, which lost its sixth straight meeting to UW-Oshkosh, was 12 of 14 (85.7 percent) from the free throw line.

UW-Oshkosh has now won 19 of its last 20 season openers and 70 of its last 73 regular season non-conference games. The Titans' 2003-04 debut marked the first time that they had two freshmen, Capelle and Chad Doedens (Fr. • Cedarburg), in the starting lineup of a season opener since the 1994-95 campaign. That year, the Titans started Brett Davis and Joe Imhoff.

2003-04 Season Preview

Check the men's basketball showroom floor in UW-Oshkosh's Kolf Sports Center and you'll see a brand-new model for the 2003-04 season.

There's a down-sized look in terms of experience for head coach Ted Van Dellen's 14th UW-Oshkosh edition, yet there's a familiar person in the driver's seat in two-year starter Andy Fernholz. Fernholz, a junior guard, is one of five players who return to the Titans this season after helping last year's squad to the most wins and the highest NCAA Division III post-season finish in school history.

UW-Oshkosh fashioned a 25-7 overall record a year ago, with a WIAC Tournament championship and an appearance in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Titans claimed their second consecutive WIAC Tournament title after defeating both top-seed UW-Stevens Point and second-seed UW-Whitewater on the road. UW-Oshkosh's four-game trip in the NCAA Division III Tournament included road wins over 11th-ranked Hope College (Mich.) and top-ranked Randolph-Macon College (Va.) and a season-ending road loss to fourth-ranked Hampden-Sydney College (Va.). UW-Oshkosh concluded its record-breaking season as the sixth-ranked team in the country.

UW-Oshkosh's biggest challenge this season is filling the void left by graduated seniors Tim Dworak, Nate Miller, Nick Scherer and Scott Sowinski. That quartet helped UW-Oshkosh post a combined 82-33 record over their four years, while accumulating a WIAC regular season championship in 2002 and a pair of NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.

Despite the loss of the combined 332 career starts of Dworak, Miller, Scherer and Sowinski, UW-Oshkosh still owns an ample amount of fuel with the return of Fernholz, junior guard Dain Christensen, sophomore guard David Gershenzon, sophomore forward Kyle Pederson and sophomore center Pete Warning.

Last season, Fernholz started all 32 games for the Titans and averaged 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He also shot 51.1 percent (72-141) from the field, 45.2 percent (19-42) behind the three-point line and 79.7 percent (63-79) from the charity stripe. Fernholz, who started 17 games for UW-Oshkosh as a freshman, scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds in the Titans' 68-63 win over UW-Whitewater in the title game of last year's WIAC Tournament.

Pederson had an impressive rookie season for the Titans a year ago by averaging 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 60.4 percent (58-96) from the field, 53.8 percent (7-13) behind the three-point line and 78.0 percent (32-41) from the free throw stripe. In last year's season opener, Pederson scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Titans' 94-53 win over St. Norbert College, a NCAA Division III Tournament participant the previous campaign.

Christensen joined Pederson as one of the first players off the bench for the Titans last season and averaged 3.4 points and 1.1 rebounds per contest. He scored 12 points in last year's 78-56 win over the Milwaukee School of Engineering in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Gershenzon and Warning return to the Titans this season looking for more playing time after averaging 2.6 and 0.8 points per game, respectively.

Expected to provide additional fuel for the Titans this season are freshman forward Jim Capelle from Wisconsin Dells High School, freshman guard Chad Doedens from Cedarburg High School, freshman center Kerry Gibson from Jefferson High School and freshman forward Nathan Wesener from Hilbert High School.

In addition to its overall record and NCAA Division III post-season appearance last year, UW-Oshkosh is also coming off a season in which they led the country in both field goal percentage (53.1) and three-point field goal percentage (43.0) while ranking second in free throw percentage (79.2).

Van Dellen enters his 14th season at UW-Oshkosh with a career coaching record of 229-119. In 1978, he was the starting forward on the Titans' WIAC championship team.