Blugolds Storm Back To Defeat Titans

UW-Eau Claire came back from 19 points down to record an 81-74 triumph over the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team on Wednesday (Feb. 1) in Kolf Sports Center.

The Blugolds (14-7/6-6 WIAC) left Oshkosh with a victory for the first time since 1995 after outscoring the Titans, 45-26, in the second half. UW-Eau Claire shot 64 percent (14-22) from the field during the final period, while UW-Oshkosh posted 30 percent (7-23) accuracy.

In the opening 20 minutes, the Titans (4-16/0-11 WIAC) played their best half of the season and obtained a 48-36 lead. Cory Nickel (So. • Waupun) buried a pair of early three-point shots, and Jade Royston (So. • Wisconsin Dells) sank two free throws to give UW-Oshkosh a 20-11 advantage. Both Nickel and Royston finished with a team-high 16 points.

UW-Oshkosh extended its margin with a 12-2 scoring run. After a lay-in and three-point play by John Flanigan (Sr. • Oshkosh), Chad Mathwig (Fr. • New Berlin) counted four points to make it 32-15. When Royston swished a long jumper at the four-minute mark, the Titans owned their largest lead of 44-25.

Three-pointers from Dustin Kalien and Jordan Petersen sliced into that deficit before halftime. The Blugolds then made five field goals in the opening 3:33 of the second half to pull within 52-46. UW-Oshkosh momentarily fought off that rally with a Nickel three-pointer to go ahead, 63-55.

James Pfitzinger compiled four points midway through the closing period to make it a tight score. After Lewis Mau drained a three-point shot with 6:52 remaining, the score was tied at 66. A Petersen jumper from behind the three-point arc put UW-Eau Claire up for good at 74-72.

The Titans didn't make a field goal in the last 6:08, missing all eight of their shots. They finished at 43 percent (23-53) overall, including 40 percent (8-20) behind the three-point line. UW-Oshkosh, which leads the NCAA Division III in free-throw shooting, made 80 percent (20-25) of its attempts at the foul line. The Titans committed just one turnover in the first half and ended up with seven.

Five UW-Oshkosh players cracked double figures, including the 10-point, seven-rebound performance by Mathwig. Flanigan tallied 14 points, while Dylan Wurtz (So. • Kimberly) contributed 11 points and Royston five assists.

UW-Eau Claire posted a 39-21 advantage in rebounds thanks to 10 from Nick Craggs. Petersen topped his squad with 22 points and four assists, to go with 16 points by Craggs and 13 points by Pfitzinger. The Blugolds totaled 51 percent (25-49) field goal shooting, 36 percent (5-14) accuracy on three-point attempts and 77 percent (26-34) marksmanship at the charity stripe.

UW-Oshkosh makes a trip to UW-Superior on Saturday (Feb. 4).