Titans Go Cold In Loss To Blugolds

UW-Eau Claire allowed just four points during the final 10:54 to earn a 66-53 comeback victory over the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team on Wednesday (Dec. 1) in Eau Claire. The game was the WIAC opener for both squads.

The Blugolds (4-2/1-0 WIAC) trailed, 49-39, before Nick Craggs dominated for a three-minute period. Craggs sliced his team's deficit with a deep jumper, a lay-up and a three-point play. He then swished another triple and recorded a steal to put UW-Eau Claire in front, 52-51, with 7:11 remaining.

James Pfitzinger and Ivan Franklin each added a bucket in the paint before Marcus Ruh drilled a dagger from three-point range to cap the 18-2 scoring run. Ruh converted six free throws in the closing minutes as the Blugolds added to their five-point cushion during the last 1:31.

Craggs paced all players with a career-high 20 points, in addition to a team-high six rebounds. UW-Eau Claire also received 13 points from Rue and Amadou Fofana, along with 12 from Pfitzinger (6-6 FG). The Blugolds prevailed thanks to 52 percent shooting (23-44), while holding UW-Oshkosh to 30 percent accuracy (16-53).

T.J. Kellner (So. • Sheboygan) drained five free throws in a three-minute span to spot the Titans (2-3/0-1 WIAC) an early 9-4 lead. UW-Eau Claire used a pair of baskets from Pfitzinger to claw back, eventually cutting the deficit to 16-13 on Fofana's foul shot at the 9:30 mark.

UW-Oshkosh took control by scoring nine of the next 10 points. Following a three-point shot by Greg Schrimpf (Jr. • Manitowoc), Cory Wittwer (Sr. • Fall Creek) knocked down a lay-up and a jumper. Paul Wojahn (So. • Oshkosh) contributed two free throws with 4:03 on the clock to make it 27-16.

The last six points of the opening half came at the charity stripe as the Titans owned a 31-22 advantage. That margin was cut to 37-35 on a Pfitzinger basket, but John Flanigan (Jr. • Oshkosh) tallied six consecutive points to keep UW-Oshkosh in front. Dylan Wurtz (Fr. • Kimberly) connected twice from downtown midway through the half to put the Titans ahead by 10.

The Titans were led by Wittwer's 10 points, as Kellner and Flanigan each booked nine. Brian Washington (So. • Waukesha) marked a game-best 12 rebounds for UW-Oshkosh, which made 3-of-20 three-point tries (15 percent) and 18-of-20 free throws (90 percent).

UW-Eau Claire committed just seven turnovers, compared to the Titans' 11. UW-Oshkosh hauled in a 37-27 rebounding edge, but allowed the Blugolds to hit 31 percent from long range (4-13) and 70 percent (16-23) at the foul line.

The Titans look to bounce back when they host UW-Platteville on Dec. 8.