Titans Fall To Warhawks In WIAC Finale

Chris Davis compiled 35 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in UW-Whitewater's 73-62 victory over the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team on Wednesday (Feb. 16) in Whitewater.

Davis, who shot 15-of-21, was the difference in a close game that featured eight first-half lead changes. The Warhawks' (16-8/9-6 WIAC) main edge was from the field, where they hit 50 percent (27-54) compared to the Titans' 37 percent (22-59). Antone Byrd tacked on 19 points and a game-high four assists for UW-Whitewater.

The contest was tied five times in the opening six minutes. UW-Oshkosh (10-14/5-11 WIAC) had five different players tally to equal the score at 12. After Davis booked 10 of his team's first 12 points, he buried a three-pointer to make it 19-19 with 10:30 left in the first half.

The Titans went in front by as many as four (29-25) using deep connections by Greg Schrimpf (Jr. • Manitowoc) and Dylan Wurtz (Fr. • Kimberly). Antone Byrd then sparked the home team with two triples and a putback. Davis finished off the Warhawks' 12-3 scoring run with a lay-in to go ahead at halftime, 40-34.

UW-Oshkosh pulled within two points (42-40) early in the second stanza, but UW-Whitewater put the clamps on with 11 consecutive points. Davis swished two jump shots to get things going. A three-point play from Byrd at the 14:48 mark stretched the advantage to 53-42.

Five minutes of shutout defense allowed the Titans to post a quick 7-0 streak. A long-range hoop by Schrimpf got UW-Oshkosh within 53-49 at the half's midway point. The Titans missed their next three shots, while UW-Whitewater converted four free throws to pull away.

Another basket with the foul by Byrd stretched the margin to 62-52 with 4:37 remaining. The Warhawks put the lid on the result with seven foul shots during the last 2:08. UW-Whitewater finished 16-of-22 from the charity stripe (73 percent), to go along with 17 percent three-point accuracy (3-18).

The Titans were led by Paul Wojahn's (So. • Oshkosh) 13 points and five rebounds. Schrimpf added 11 points, as John Flanigan (Jr. • Oshkosh) marked 10 points and five boards. UW-Oshkosh totaled 92 percent free throw shooting (12-13) and 6-of-19 connections behind the arc (32 percent).

UW-Oshkosh wraps up its 2010-11 season with a contest against Silver Lake College on Saturday (Feb. 19) in Manitowoc.