Titans Unable To Net Nationally Ranked Falcons

UW-River Falls didn't allow a field goal for more than 11 minutes to record a 70-61 triumph over the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team on Saturday (Dec. 11) in Kolf Sports Center.

In a game of streaks, the Titans (3-4/1-2 WIAC) posted the game's first seven points. The Falcons came back with the next six, and it was a tight contest late in the opening period. UW-River Falls (8-2/4-0 WIAC), ranked 18th in the NCAA Division III, stepped up its defense and didn't allow a basket for 11:11 while posting a 19-5 scoring run.

Paul Wojahn (So. • Oshkosh) sandwiched a pair of lay-ups around a Cory Wittwer (Sr. • Fall Creek) three-pointer as UW-Oshkosh gained a quick 7-0 advantage. Three close-range buckets and a trio of free throws by the Falcons then tied the contest at 9-9. A Shane Manor lay-in at the 10:54 mark put a 13-13 figure on the scoreboard.

UW-River Falls took a five-point lead on a triple by Jontae Koonkaew, but John Flanigan's (Jr. • Oshkosh) hoop with 5:26 to play shrunk the deficit. The Titans' final five points of the opening half came at the foul line. The Falcons had five different players score during the last 5:06 to obtain a 34-25 lead at the break.

Capitalizing on their momentum, the Falcons scored eight unanswered points to begin the second half. Koonkaew connected from downtown with 16:24 to play, putting UW-River Falls ahead, 42-25. The Titans finally ended their shooting drought 5:45 into the period, when Wojahn sank a lay-up.

The Falcons' advantage varied between 10 and 17 points for the majority of the closing half. Dylan Wurtz (Fr. • Kimberly) knocked down a pair of deep jumpers to pull UW-Oshkosh within 50-36. A two-pointer by Aaron Anderson, along with five Koonkaew free throws, squashed any chance of a Titan comeback.

UW-River Falls had four players in double figures, led by Koonkaew's 18 points. The Falcons were paced by three assists from both Manor (14 points) and Jake Voeltz (13 points). Brian Kimble also marked 11 points for UW-River Falls, which committed 15 turnovers.

Flanigan topped UW-Oshkosh in scoring (18) and rebounding (9). Wojahn compiled 10 points and seven boards, in addition to 10 points by Brian Washington (So. • Waukesha). The Titans held a slight rebounding edge, 30-28, but they hit 40 percent from the field, 29 percent (5-17) from long range and 70 percent at the foul line (16-23).

The Falcons outshot the Titans, 60 percent to 30 percent, during the first 20 minutes. UW-River Falls ended up with 50 percent accuracy (21-42), including 36 percent marksmanship (4-11) from downtown. Capitalizing on their 31 uncontested shots, the Falcons buried 24 free throws (77 percent).

UW-Oshkosh travels to Las Vegas, Nev., for a contest against Wartburg College (Iowa) on December 20.