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The Titans set a school record with 23 wins during the 1967-68 season.
The Titans set a school record with 23 wins during the 1967-68 season.

UW-Oshkosh To Celebrate 1968 Final Four Run

Recap Box Score

UW-Oshkosh will honor its 1967-68 men's basketball team as part of Alumni Day on Saturday (Feb. 1) in Kolf Sports Center. It's also Clash's Kids Day, when children ages 18 and under will be admitted free and receive a voucher for popcorn.

The contest between the Titans and UW-River Falls begins at 3 p.m. During halftime, UW-Oshkosh will recognize members from the team that earned the best national finish in program history. Other former Titans in attendance will also be introduced.

UW-Oshkosh compiled a 23-6 record on its way to finishing third at the 1968 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament. That win total stood as the school record for 34 years.

Coach Bob White and his team won the WIAC championship with a 13-3 mark. The Titans started the year 12-0, including a battle for first place at UW-Whitewater. During that contest, UW-Oshkosh broke eight school and league records in a 133-100 victory.

On Feb. 17, 1968, two Titans joined the 1,000-point club. Both Ron Hayek and John Lallensack reached the mark during a 102-86 win over UW-River Falls.

Following the regular season, UW-Oshkosh defeated Lakeland College twice to win the NAIA District 14 title. That sent the Titans to the national tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

UW-Oshkosh won tournament games against Guilford College (N.C.), Eastern Montana College and Drury University (Mo.) to reach the semifinals. Fairmont State University (W.Va.) then topped the Titans, 76-74, in the Final Four. The Titans bounced back and won the third-place game with a 102-68 decision over Westminster College (Pa.).

UW-Oshkosh scored triple digits in eight contests while averaging more than 90 points per game. Hayek led the Titans with 630 points, while WIAC Player of the Year Lallensack totaled 448 points and 421 rebounds. Tom Witasek received NAIA All-America Second Team honors after scoring 435 points.

Six members of this team, including Coach White and Assistant Coach Russ Tiedemann, have been inducted into the UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame. Hayek, Witasek, Mike Malone and Dale Race also own plaques displayed in Kolf Sports Center.

Other members of the 1968 squad include Ray Berghoefer, Dan Buhr, Mark Christianson, Steve Durtschi, Jim Hild, Bob Kleinschmidt, Ken Loest, Bruce Miller, Rick Rehm, Bill Schwartz, Gary Van Cuyk, Ken Ver Gowe and student manager Pat Simon.

The annual UW-Oshkosh Alumni Basketball Game will be held Saturday in Kolf Sports Center at 10 a.m.

By Jon Feyen