Eagles Escape From Titans

UW-La Crosse made its last 20 free throws and committed just five turnovers to record a 61-55 win over the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team on Wednesday (Jan. 20) in Kolf Sports Center.

In a contest that featured 14 ties, neither squad held a lead of more than four points for the opening 29 minutes of action. The Eagles (13-4/5-3 WIAC) pulled away from a 40-40 deadlock with seven unanswered points and led the rest of the way.

Trevor Stratton, who tallied 18 points and four steals, completed a three-point play to put the Eagles in front 43-40 with 11:51 remaining. UW-La Crosse then got a pair of free throws from Tony Mane and a dunk by Al Chery to take a 47-40 lead with 10:06 left.

D.J. Marsh (Sr. • Bayside) dropped in a pair of lay-ups to slice the Titans' deficit to 53-50, but Austin Scott responded with two free throws for the Eagles. Following a three-point basket by UW-Oshkosh's Cory Wittwer (Jr. • Fall Creek) and two free throws by UW-La Crosse's Chery, Marsh sank a pair of free throws to pull the Titans to within 57-55 with 1:58 left.

UW-La Crosse secured its first win against UW-Oshkosh in five games on two free throws by both Mane and Stratton in the final 15 seconds. UW-Oshkosh was hurt in the final minute by two missed three-point shots, two turnovers and three fouls.

UW-La Crosse took a 9-6 lead on a jump shot and three-point basket by Mane. The Titans' Wittwer tied the score at 9, while Andy Kretsch's (Jr. • Manitowoc) three-point basket put UW-Oshkosh ahead 14-11 at the 12:15 mark of the opening period.

UW-Oshkosh (7-9/2-6 WIAC) took leads of 18-15 and 20-17 before UW-La Crosse created ties at 20, 22 and 24. Following a lay-up by UW-Oshkosh's Steven Waudby (Sr. • Marquette, Mich.), Mane converted back-to-back lay-ups to give the Eagles a 28-26 lead at the break.

UW-Oshkosh counted the first four points of the second half to take a 32-28 lead with 18:08 to play. Following two free throws by UW-La Crosse's Mane, Marsh made a lay-up to give the Titans a 34-30 advantage with 17:28 left. The Eagles then forced ties at 36 and 38 before taking a 40-38 lead on a lay-up by Stratton with 12:27 remaining.

Achieving his fourth double-double of the season, Marsh amassed 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for UW-Oshkosh. The Titans also received eight points and seven rebounds from both Washington and John Flanigan (So. • Oshkosh).

Mane led UW-La Crosse in scoring with 19 points. The Eagles also benefited from the four points and 10 rebounds of Andrew Haass and the eight points, four steals and three rebounds of Chery.

UW-Oshkosh shot 45 percent (18-40) from the field, 37.5 percent (3-8) behind the three-point arc and 80 percent (16-20) from the free-throw line. The Titans grabbed 31 rebounds and committed 17 turnovers.

UW-La Crosse shot 38.8 percent (19-49) from the field, 22.2 percent (2-9) behind the three-point line and 91.3 percent (21-23) from the free-throw stripe. The Eagles collected 25 rebounds.

UW-Oshkosh welcomes UW-Stevens Point, the top-ranked team in the NCAA Division III, to Kolf Sports Center on Saturday (Jan. 23).