Yellowjackets Roll Up Win Over Titans

Jake Smith racked up 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead UW-Superior past the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team, 71-58, on Saturday (Jan. 8) in Superior.

The Yellowjackets (10-4/2-3 WIAC) used 10-of-17 shooting from Smith to finish with 50 percent accuracy (27-54) for the game. Another big contribution came from Marcus Helland, who marked 15 points and nine rebounds. UW-Superior converted 82 percent of its free throws (14-17) and limited its turnovers to five.

Helland took control of the contest during the opening three minutes. He dropped in a three-pointer and two lay-ups to give the Yellowjackets a 9-5 advantage. Smith took the reins from there, booking his team's next three field goals to stretch the margin to 15-11 with 13:12 on the clock.

UW-Oshkosh (6-7/1-4 WIAC) began to make its move when Sam Mageland (So. • Appleton) drained a jumper to cut the deficit to two points. T.J. Kellner (So. • Sheboygan) followed that basket with a three-pointer, while Greg Schrimpf (Jr. • Manitowoc) added a jumper and a long-range connection to tie the score at 25 with 7:07 left in the half.

Smith recorded the Yellowjackets' next four points as they marked 14 of the period's last 18 points. After consecutive field goals from Helland, Dustin Ritchie sank a three-ball to propel UW-Superior to a 38-29 lead at intermission.

The Titans got as close as eight (44-36) early in the final frame, but Ben Aalfs increased the Yellowjacket cushion to double digits for the remainder of the game. In less than two minutes, Aalfs counted a three-point play, a jumper behind the arc, a lay-up and two free throws to make it a 54-37 score with 13:43 to go.

Aalfs, who totaled 12 points, five rebounds and two steals, posted the game's largest difference at 65-45 with 6:29 left. Kellner slowly cut into that margin with seven late points, but the Titans still finished with 40 percent shooting (21-53). UW-Oshkosh hit 6-of-17 tries from downtown (35 percent) and 10-of-12 free throws (83 percent).

John Flanigan (Jr. • Oshkosh) paced the Titans with 17 points and four rebounds, in addition to 15 points by Schrimpf. Kellner tacked on 10 points and four boards for UW-Oshkosh, which committed seven turnovers and lost the rebounding battle, 26-38.

The Titans return home to take on UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Jan. 12).