Titans Vanquish Knights With Long-Distance Attack

T.J. Kellner (So. • Sheboygan) connected on a career-high five three-pointers as UW-Oshkosh pulled away in the second half for a 74-67 triumph over the Wartburg College (Iowa) men's basketball team on Monday (Dec. 20) in Las Vegas, Nev.

One of four Titans (4-4) in double figures, Kellner posted 15 points while Cory Wittwer (Sr. • Fall Creek) led the squad with 19 points and four assists. Paul Wojahn (So. • Oshkosh) dominated the offensive glass with seven rebounds (10 overall) and 12 points. John Flanigan (Jr. • Oshkosh) rounded out the solid team effort with 11 points, seven boards and three steals.

The game's sixth, and final, tie came at 30 with 16:49 remaining. Kellner proceeded to bury three shots from downtown in less than four minutes. His first triple put UW-Oshkosh in front for good. He then knocked down back-to-back jumpers to give his team a 43-33 lead with 12:17 on the clock.

The Knights (5-6) tallied six of the next eight points, including two lay-ups by Eddie Diemer, to cut their deficit to 45-39. Brian Washington (So. • Waukesha) answered with a bucket in the lane, and Kellner followed with a long-distance hoop to stretch the margin to 11 points with 7:21 to play.

Wojahn converted a pair of inside baskets with about four minutes left to hold off any chance of a Wartburg College rally. After Kellner's three-pointer with 2:54 remaining, the Titans swished six free throws in the last 1:30. The closest the Knights got was 71-65 on Taylor Jacobsmeier's triple during the final minute.

The teams combined for 93 points after halftime, but they totaled just 48 prior to the break. Neither squad scored in the opening three minutes of the contest before ties at 2, 5 and 8. Wartburg College then showed signs of taking control as Diemer hit two jumpers and Kirk Sidey one of his own for a 16-11 lead at the 6:46 mark.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Cole Danielson and Drew Crawford gave the Knights a nine-point cushion. UW-Oshkosh turned the tables and took aim from downtown. Wittwer booked two three-balls just 10 seconds apart, and Greg Schrimpf (Jr. • Manitowoc) joined in with a triple to post a 24-24 score at intermission.

The Titans' 44-percent deep shooting (11-25) helped make up for 53 percent accuracy at the foul line (9-17). UW-Oshkosh, which shot 46 percent overall (27-59), committed just nine turnovers while winning the rebounding battle, 32-30.

Wartburg College was led by Danielson's 20 points, as Diemer compiled 14 points and nine rebounds. Crawford tacked on 11 points for the Knights, who totaled 53 percent shooting (26-49) and 8-of-10 makes at the foul line. Wartburg College also lit it up from long range, making 7-of-16 attempts (44 percent).

UW-Oshkosh takes the court on Tuesday (Dec. 21) against Elmhurst College (Ill.).