Warhawks Outlast Titans In Double Overtime

Antone Byrd and Chris Davis tallied 30 points apiece as UW-Whitewater prevailed, 89-87 in double overtime, against the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team on Wednesday (Jan. 12) in Kolf Sports Center.

Greg Schrimpf (Jr. • Manitowoc) created all the drama, swishing a leaning three-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 69. During the first overtime, Alex Edmunds hit a trio of free throws to put UW-Whitewater (10-5/3-3 WIAC) up by three points. With 18 seconds on the clock, Schrimpf banked in another bomb to force the second extra session.

Byrd was the star of that period, marking a jumper, a lay-up and one foul shot. Four points at the charity stripe by Paul Wojahn (So. • Oshkosh) eventually cut the Titans' deficit to 82-80. Following a missed UW-Whitewater free throw, Cory Wittwer (Sr. • Fall Creek) launched a 30-footer at the horn that rimmed out.

UW-Oshkosh (6-8/1-5 WIAC) got career-highs of 25 points and 19 rebounds from John Flanigan (Jr. • Oshkosh), but the Warhawks also had an inside presence with 13 rebounds by Davis. While the Titans posted a 17-4 edge in offensive boards, UW-Whitewater countered with 56 percent shooting for the game (31-55).

Wittwer's three-point basket gave the Titans the lead 14 seconds into play. The Warhawks fired back with deep jumpers by Davis and DJ Dantzler to go in front, 13-12. Byrd then marked four straight points to extend the cushion to 17-14 at the 9:25 mark.

Despite shooting 41 percent, UW-Oshkosh hung around in the first half by dominating the glass (10 offensive rebounds). Flanigan was one of four Titans to convert a lay-up late in the period. Byrd had his floater trickle in at the buzzer to give the Warhawks a 35-30 halftime lead.

Pounding the ball inside, UW-Oshkosh scored in the paint and at the foul line to draw closer. Following a Schrimpf triple, Brian Washington (So. • Waukesha) knocked down two free throws to equal the score at 43 with 14:22 remaining.

Six consecutive points by Byrd regained the lead for UW-Whitewater. With 11:07 left, Byrd sped down the court and sank a lay-up while getting fouled to make it 51-46. He added a dunk moments later to gain a 55-51 cushion.

Phil Negri buried a wide open look behind the arc to put the Warhawks up, 62-54, with 7:48 on the clock. The Titans then cranked up the defense, turning blocks and steals into transition opportunities. Flanigan converted a Washington steal into an easy lay-in that cut the deficit to 65-64 at the 2:34 mark.

There were plenty of statistics to go around after 50 minutes of action. Negri topped all players with six assists, while Washington booked 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Other contributors for the Titans were Wojahn (16 points) and Wittwer (15 points).

UW-Whitewater, which played its fourth overtime period in five games, made 5-of-15 three-point shots (33 percent) and 22-of-29 free throws (76 percent). The Titans compiled 42 percent shooting (30-71), including 6-of-17 from long range (35 percent) and 84 percent accuracy on the foul line (21-25).

UW-Oshkosh will play the early game of a doubleheader against UW-Stout on Saturday (Jan. 15) in Kolf Sports Center.