Top-Ranked Pointers Clamp Down Titans

Matt Moses piled up a career-best 34 points to lead nationally ranked UW-Stevens Point past the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team, 73-54, on Saturday (Jan. 23) in Kolf Sports Center.

Moses nearly tripled his scoring average of 12.2 points per contest by making 11-of-14 shots from the field, including five three-point baskets, and all seven free throws.

UW-Stevens Point (17-1/8-1 WIAC), which entered the game ranked first in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, took the lead three minutes into play and never relinquished it.

The Pointers jumped out to a 9-2 advantage on a three-point play by Moses. He then buried a long three-point shot to give UW-Stevens Point a 12-4 lead. Jerrel Harris hung in midair and converted another hoop as the Pointers took a 14-4 lead with 12:43 left in the first half.

After Paul Wojahn (Fr. • Oshkosh) cut UW-Oshkosh's deficit to 25-15 with a lay-up, Moses drilled three-point shots on three straight possessions to give the Pointers a 34-18 lead with 4:06 left in the opening period.

Jade Royston (Fr. • Wisconsin Dells) completed a three-point play to pull the Titans within 34-21, but UW-Stevens Point scored the last four points of the stanza to take a 38-21 lead to intermission.

After going scoreless in the first half, D.J. Marsh (Sr. • Bayside) made two free throws and lay-up to slice UW-Oshkosh's deficit to 41-28. Moses responded with a jump shot and Harris a three-pointer as UW-Stevens Point built a 48-30 advantage with 13:18 remaining.

UW-Stevens Point extended its lead by counting 10 unanswered points midway through the second half. Moses tallied six points during the spurt, including a turnaround jumper that put his team up 60-34 with 8:15 left.

Marsh tallied six of the next nine UW-Oshkosh points to keep things interesting. Moses made sure the Pointers didn't lose control, hitting a three-point shot and another jumper to give UW-Stevens Point a 69-43 lead with 3:37 to play.

UW-Oshkosh (7-10/2-7 WIAC), which suffered a 73-67 loss to UW-Stevens Point on Jan. 6, created the final score with a game-ending 11-4 scoring run.

Marsh scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Titans in both categories. He entered the game averaging 23.5 points per game, the fifth-highest mark in the NCAA Division III.

UW-Oshkosh also received 10 points and two assists from Cory Wittwer (Jr. • Fall Creek), nine points and four rebounds from Brian Washington (Fr. • Waukesha) and seven points and two rebounds from Wojahn.

In addition to the 34 points and five rebounds by Moses, UW-Stevens Point also obtained 11 points, six rebounds and five assists from Nick Krull and eight points from Harris. The trio helped the Pointers record their 10th straight victory.

UW-Oshkosh shot 40.8 percent (20-49) from the field, including 33.3 percent (5-15) behind the three-point line. UW-Oshkosh made all nine of its free throws while grabbing 21 rebounds and committing 11 turnovers.

UW-Stevens Point converted 59.1 percent (26-54) of its shots from the field, 44.4 percent (8-18) of its three-point attempts and 92.9 percent (13-14) of its free throws. The Pointers collected 23 rebounds and committed nine turnovers.

UW-Oshkosh journeys to UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday (Jan. 27).