Titans Chase Down Pioneers In Overtime

T.J. Kellner (So. • Sheboygan) splashed a three-pointer for the final lead change as UW-Oshkosh posted a wild, 69-68 overtime win over the UW-Platteville men's basketball team on Wednesday (Dec. 8) in Kolf Sports Center.

The deep jumper by Kellner with 2:07 left was the Titans' (3-3/1-1 WIAC) only field goal of the extra session, as they made 5-of-9 free throws. UW-Platteville (4-4/0-2 WIAC) also registered one made shot on Rob Stallion's three-pointer with 3:29 remaining. Following a missed UW-Oshkosh free throw with six seconds left, UW-Platteville's Eric Gerber tossed up a mid-range attempt that fell short before the final buzzer.

John Flanigan (Jr. • Oshkosh) paced the victors with 17 points and four steals, while Brian Washington (So. • Waukesha) contributed big-time with 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. The Titans, who shot 50 percent (25-50), also received 16 points from Cory Wittwer (Sr. • Fall Creek).

Wittwer commanded UW-Oshkosh's offense early, marking a spinning lay-up and a finger roll to go ahead, 6-5. UW-Platteville responded with nine of the game's next 14 points, as four different players made a basket to gain a 14-9 lead with 11:44 on the clock.

The Titans trailed by one point before three deep jumpers found the bottom of the net in 47 seconds. Nick Allen drained the Pioneers' basket, while Kellner and Flanigan each swished a triple to make it a 21-20 UW-Platteville margin.

Kellner gave his team a brief lead, but the Pioneers marked seven unanswered points to establish a 28-22 cushion. A pair of three-point shots by Brett Stangel late in the period allowed UW-Platteville to own a 32-25 advantage at the half.

Two baskets from Allen, followed by a Stangel three-pointer, stretched the Pioneer margin to 47-37 with 12:56 left in the second half. The Titans stormed back with a 15-2 scoring run that featured three Paul Wojahn (So. • Oshkosh) conversions to go in front, 52-49, at the 6:02 mark.

The score was tied at 52 and 59 during the closing six minutes. Stangel sank a cold-blooded triple with 1:39 on the clock to equal the tally at 59. With three seconds left in period two, Allen calmly knocked down two free throws to tie it at 61. Wittwer's heave at the horn was just off the mark to cause overtime.

UW-Oshkosh connected on 6-of-17 from downtown (35 percent) and 13-of-21 foul shots (62 percent). The Pioneers finished with 40 percent accuracy (24-60), including 28 percent behind the arc (8-29) and 67 percent on free throws (12-18). UW-Platteville benefited from a 36-28 rebounding edge, highlighted by a 15-5 advantage on the offensive end.

Allen topped all scorers with 19 points and four assists, as Stangel chipped in 17 points and four dimes. The Pioneers used 11 points and nine rebounds from Chas Cross, in addition to nine points and 10 rebounds by Eric Wall. UW-Platteville, which lost for the first time in seven meetings with the Titans, committed 15 turnovers.

The Titans welcome UW-River Falls to Kolf Sports Center on Saturday (Dec. 11).