Titans Clip Falcons

Cory Wittwer (Jr. • Fall Creek) tallied 20 points, including the last five of a game-clinching 10-0 run, as the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team hung on for a 71-69 victory over UW-River Falls on Saturday (Jan. 30) in River Falls.

UW-River Falls (8-12/2-9 WIAC) had a chance to win the game and sweep the season series with the Titans, but Wade Guerin's three-point shot bounced off the rim at the final horn.

The teams were tied at 46 before UW-Oshkosh (9-10/4-7 WIAC) pulled ahead 53-48 on a three-point play by D.J. Marsh (Sr. • Bayside) with 5:44 to go. Guerin then finished off a three-point play of his own to get the Falcons within 53-51 with 5:27 remaining.

The next 10 points belonged to UW-Oshkosh as the Titans built a 63-51 lead with 2:41 left. UW-Oshkosh's scoring run featured a three-point play by John Flanigan (So. • Oshkosh), a lay-up by Marsh and a three-point basket and a lay-up from Wittwer.

Trailing 65-53 with 1:59 left, UW-River Falls staged a 16-5 scoring run to cut its difference to 70-69 with seven seconds remaining. The rally featured six points by Spencer Shelman, five by Guerin and three by Brady Hannigan. Guerin marked the Falcons' last five points of the scoring run, including a three-point play that pulled UW-River Falls to a 70-69 deficit.

UW-Oshkosh's Wittwer was fouled with six seconds left and he created the game's final score by sinking one of two free throws.

A trio of three-point plays got UW-River Falls off to a fast start. First, Shelman and Guerin each knocked down three-point shots. With 15:17 on the clock, Jontae Koonkaew completed a lay-up and a free throw to put the Falcons ahead 9-2.

UW-Oshkosh responded with the long ball, getting three-point baskets from Paul Wojahn (Fr. • Oshkosh) and Wittwer to pull within 13-12.

A Shelman bucket put the Falcons ahead 27-21, but UW-Oshkosh tallied the next seven points to take a 28-27 lead on Greg Schrimpf's (So. • Manitowoc) three-pointer. The Falcons owned a 31-28 lead at the break after Jake Voeltz's steal and lay-up.

Schrmipf opened the second half for the Titans with a three-point basket. Following two free throws by Guerin, UW-Oshkosh went ahead 34-33 on a three-point basket by Wittwer with 18:51 to play.

The teams went on to play to tied scores at 35, 39, 42, 44 and 46 before UW-Oshkosh jumped to its 53-48 advantage.

Witter, who finished the contest with four three-point baskets, backed up his 20-point effort with three rebounds, two steals and one assist. Marsh, who fouled out with 1:31 to play, totaled 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists. UW-Oshkosh also received 10 points from Schrimpf and nine points and five rebounds from Wojahn.

Guerin led the Falcons with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Hannigan and Shelman tacked on 16 and 11 points, respectively.

UW-Oshkosh shot 47.1 percent (24-51) from the field and 72.7 percent (16-22) from the free-throw line. The Titans made seven of their season-high 21 three-point attempts (33.3 percent) while collecting 32 rebounds and committing 11 turnovers.

UW-River Falls achieved 46.4 percent (26-56) shooting from the field and 66.7 percent (12-18) accuracy from the free-throw line. The Falcons shot 33.3 percent (5-15) behind the three-point arc while grabbing 33 rebounds and committing 11 turnovers.

The Titans go for their third straight victory when UW-Platteville visits the Kolf Sports Center on Wednesday (Feb. 3).