Titans Come Back To Conquer Blue Devils

UW-Oshkosh posted a 15-2 scoring run in the second half to earn a 72-65 victory over the UW-Stout men's basketball team on Saturday (Feb. 5) in Menomonie.

Eric Hostetter knocked down a triple and lay-up to put UW-Stout ahead, 41-35, with 18 minutes left. The Titans (10-11/5-8 WIAC) then turned a Nate Wara (So. • Oshkosh) steal into a three-pointer by John Flanigan (Jr. • Oshkosh), who tacked on a two-point basket. Flanigan made two more jumpers as UW-Oshkosh gained a 50-43 lead with 11:51 to go.

Making 10 field goals, Flanigan paced the Titans with 24 points, eight rebounds and two steals. T.J. Kellner (So. • Sheboygan) added 13 points and five boards, while Cory Wittwer (Sr. • Fall Creek) recorded 11 points. UW-Oshkosh took advantage of the foul line, outscoring the Pioneers, 28-13.

The Blue Devils (8-13/3-10 WIAC) managed to get within three points (50-47), but Dylan Wurtz (Fr. • Kimberly) and Kellner each booked a three-point basket to pull away. After two more free throws by Kellner, the Titans held a 67-53 margin with 4:42 remaining.

UW-Oshkosh went scoreless for the next four minutes, as the Blue Devils tallied nine unanswered points. Hostetter accounted for two jumpers, a lay-in and a free throw. A three-point shot from Jerrod Buchholtz marked the tightest score at 70-65 with 23 seconds to go.

In the first 11 minutes of the contest, the squads remained within three points of each other. Wittwer notched four straight points, followed by a Flanigan lay-up, to give UW-Oshkosh a 15-12 lead with 13:39 on the clock.

UW-Stout got into a grove during its 14-3 scoring run. Five of those points came at the foul line before Buchholtz nailed a three-pointer. Jordan Nelson converted a jump shot with eight minutes remaining to put the Blue Devils up, 28-20.

The Titans got nine of their last 13 points on free throws to close the first half. Paul Wojahn (So. • Oshkosh) and Flanigan each hit a mid-range attempt to pull within 31-28. Wittwer swished a pair at the charity stripe to make UW-Oshkosh's deficit 36-33 at intermission.

The Blue Devils achieved victories in both field goal percentage (49-43) and three-point accuracy (43 percent-24 percent). Buchholtz topped his squad with 22 points and five rebounds, in addition to 14 points by Hostetter. Erik Olson recorded 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

UW-Oshkosh, which swept the season series with UW-Stout for the fourth time in five years, returns home to host UW-La Crosse on Wednesday (Feb. 9) in Kolf Sports Center. The Titans defeated the Eagles, 73-62, on Jan. 19 in La Crosse.