Green Knights Pin Down Titans In Season Opener

UW-Oshkosh was held to its lowest shooting percentage in 30 games as it dropped a 60-52 men's basketball decision to St. Norbert College on Monday (Nov. 16) in De Pere.

The Green Knights (2-0) spoiled the Titans' (0-1) season opener for the second straight year. St. Norbert College defeated UW-Oshkosh, 66-62, in last year's meeting. This season's Titans entered the contest ranked 24th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com.

UW-Oshkosh made just 6-of-23 field goal attempts (26.1 percent) in the opening half and finished at 32.1 percent (17-53) for the game. The first 20 minutes saw the Titans be outscored, 30-19.

Four Green Knights scored in double figures, including Dave Wipperfurth and Steve Papke, who each registered 14 points. John Taylor added 12 points and Jake Dietz 11 for St. Norbert College, which shot 42.2 percent (19-45) from the field despite missing all 11 of its three-point attempts.

UW-Oshkosh trailed, 32-19, early in the second half before mounting a 17-4 scoring run to tie the game. Five different players tallied two points each before Steven Waudby (Sr. • Marquette, Mich.) dropped in back-to-back lay-ups. With 11:13 on the clock, Cory Wittwer (Jr. • Fall Creek) buried a three-pointer to equal the score at 36.

Seven unanswered points from the Green Knights put them back in control. James Pfitzinger marked five of those points, while Dietz capped the spurt with a lay-in for a 45-38 advantage at the 6:04 mark.

D. J. Marsh (Sr. • Bayside) accounted for seven straight UW-Oshkosh points, including a three-point play, as the Titans got as close as 52-49 with 41 seconds remaining. St. Norbert College knocked down its final nine free throws, with four by Taylor, to put the game away.

The Green Knights started the game on fire, making their first five shots. Two Taylor jumpers were followed by two free throws and a bucket from Dietz as the Green Knights took a 14-4 lead with 13:17 left in the first half.

Greg Schrimpf (So. • Manitowoc) and Marsh each converted a pair of free throws to pull UW-Oshkosh within 14-12. Over the final 7:14 of the opening period, St. Norbert College outscored the Titans, 16-7. Wipperfurth tallied back-to-back three-point plays during the stretch that gave the Green Knights an 11-point margin at halftime.

Marsh was the only Titan in double figures, tallying 17 points and six rebounds, including 9-of-9 free throw accuracy. UW-Oshkosh, which totaled 17 turnovers, 36 rebounds and 14.3 percent (2-14) three-point shooting, also got nine points from Schrimpf.

Both squads took care of business at the charity stripe, with UW-Oshkosh making 16-of-18 attempts (88.9 percent) and St. Norbert College hitting 22-of-29 tries (75.9 percent). Papke pulled down eight rebounds to top all players while Taylor dished off a game-high four assists.

St. Norbert College, which is favored to win this year's Midwest Conference title, reeled in nine offensive rebounds among its overall total of 32. The Titans posted 15 offensive rebounds, but the Green Knights made up for it by blocking seven shots.

UW-Oshkosh visits Lawrence University on Thursday (Nov. 19).