Ninth-Ranked Warhawks Take Down Titans

UW-Whitewater put together a 22-6 scoring run around halftime to clinch its 76-64 victory over the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team on Wednesday (Feb. 15) in Whitewater. The Warhawks (21-3/12-3 WIAC) entered the game ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com.

With the win, UW-Whitewater moved into a three-way tie atop the WIAC standings with UW-River Falls and UW-Stevens Point. Chris Davis led five Warhawks in double figures with 18 points and nine rebounds. Quardell Young added 13 points, while Alex Edmunds and Josh Glenn each tallied 12 and Eric Bryson 10.

UW-Oshkosh (4-20/0-15 WIAC) did most of its damage at the foul line with 24-of-28 shooting (86 percent). John Flanigan (Sr. • Oshkosh) hit all 10 foul shots to total 18 points. The Titans received 14 points from Dylan Wurtz (So. • Kimberly), along with 10 points and five boards by Chad Mathwig (Fr. • New Berlin).

It was just a 31-28 UW-Whitewater lead with two minutes remaining in the first half. Davis then marked a three-point play and a deep jumper. Alex Merg also connected behind the arc to make it a 40-28 score at the break.

The Titans posted the first four points of the second period, but the Warhawks responded with 13 of the next 15 points. Glenn counted two baskets and Bryson converted inside to take a 53-34 lead with 14:08 left.

Wurtz drained back-to-back triples midway through the half to trail, 58-44. That margin remained in the teens until the final two minutes. Flanigan cut the deficit to 74-62 by making two foul shots at the 1:25 mark. Hitting 88 percent on the season, Flanigan leads the WIAC in free-throw accuracy.

UW-Oshkosh won the rebounding category, 30-28, while making 37 percent (18-49) of its shots. The Titans compiled 4-of-15 success (27 percent) from three-point range and committed 15 turnovers.

After six minutes of action, the two squads were tied at 12. The Warhawks rallied with the next nine points, featuring six straight by Edmunds, to go ahead. UW-Oshkosh battled back with four Flanigan free throws and Wurtz's long-distance jumper to pull within 31-28.

The Warhawks nailed 14-of-21 shots (67 percent) during the second period to boost their overall accuracy to 55 percent (31-56). They added 40 percent marksmanship (6-15) behind the arc and 89 percent efficiency (8-9) at the charity stripe.

UW-Oshkosh ends its 2011-12 season against UW-Stout on Saturday (Feb. 18) in Kolf Sports Center.