Titans' String Of Free Throws Sink Blugolds

UW-Oshkosh knocked down 26 consecutive free throws and never trailed during an 83-58 victory over the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team on Wednesday (Jan. 26) in Kolf Sports Center.

Although the Titans (9-9/4-6 WIAC) and Blugolds (8-10/3-7 WIAC) had the same field-goal percentage (44), UW-Oshkosh nailed 29-of-30 attempts at the foul line (97 percent). John Flanigan (Jr. • Oshkosh) paced all players with 24 points as he tallied 20+ for the fourth time in five games.

Cory Wittwer (Sr. • Fall Creek) got things off to an exciting start when he made a no-look floater behind his head for two points. He then stole the inbounds pass and converted another lay-up. T.J. Kellner (So. • Sheboygan) buried a three-point basket at the 17:11 mark to put UW-Oshkosh ahead, 11-1.

The Blugolds started the game shooting 1-of-9 with six turnovers in the first nine minutes. Nick Craggs finally got something going with a deep jumper and two free throws to cut the deficit to 15-8 with 8:36 to play in the half.

Flanigan sank a turnaround jump shot and drove for two more points to make it 25-8. The Blugolds responded with the game's next eight points, including five by James Pfitzinger. UW-Oshkosh drained five late free throws to gain a 32-23 cushion at halftime.

The only time UW-Eau Claire got within single digits was 34-25 early in the second half. The Titans rallied for a 23-7 scoring run to put the game away. Flanigan found the iron awfully kind, booking a triple that bounced high off the front rim and circling a hook shot around and down to put his team up, 62-37.

Jordan Petersen tallied 10 of the Blugolds' 12 points midway through the final period to pull within 76-56 at the 4:19 mark. Despite the wide margin, Brian Washington (So. • Waukesha) gave fans something to cheer about. Washington slammed home two missed shots during a two-minute stretch to mark the Titans' final points of the night.

Greg Schrimpf (Jr. • Manitowoc) was perfect on his 12 tosses at the charity stripe en route to 20 points. Wittwer contributed 17 points and four steals – three of which he turned into fastbreak lay-ups. The Titans finished with just seven turnovers and 6-of-19 connections from three-point range (32 percent).

The Blugolds received 17 points from Craggs, along with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists from Petersen. Amadou Fofana tacked on 10 points for UW-Eau Claire, which hit 33 percent from behind the arc (5-15) and 62 percent of its free throws (13-21).

UW-Oshkosh won the rebounding battle, 34-25, in topping the Blugolds for the 18th time in 21 meetings.

The Titans' next contest is at conference-leading and nationally ranked UW-River Falls on Saturday (Jan. 29).