Third-Ranked Warhawks Overtake Titans

UW-Whitewater had four players in double figures to earn a 75-51 victory over the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team on Saturday (Feb. 15) in Whitewater.

The Warhawks (21-3/12-3 WIAC) are ranked third in the NCAA Division III.

UW-Oshkosh fell behind, 7-2, in the opening minutes. The Titans then rallied with nine straight points, as Taylor Jansen's jumper gave the road team an 11-7 lead.

UW-Whitewater regained the lead with an Eric Bryson three-pointer. Ahead 20-16, the Warhawks pulled away with a 12-2 scoring run that included five points by Alex Merg. His free throws with 3:06 on the clock made it a 32-18 advantage.

The margin was 37-24 at halftime. After intermission, UW-Whitewater tallied 11 of the first 13 points. Reggie Hearn got inside for two buckets that gained a 48-26 advantage with 16:04 to go.

Max Schebel nailed back-to-back jumpers to pull the Titans closer. Alex Olson's hoop made it 55-39, but UW-Whitewater wasn't challenged after that.

UW-Oshkosh finished with 36 percent shooting (18-50) from the field, including 4-of-12 from long distance (33 percent). The Titans connected on 11-of-13 free throws (85 percent).

Schebel topped UW-Oshkosh with 12 points, while Dylan Wurtz contributed eight and Kyle Bolger seven.

The Warhawks used 17 points from KJ Evans, along with 16 from Hearn and 10 apiece by Bryson and Merg. Quardell Young dished out five assists.

UW-Whitewater shot 50 percent overall (23-46), 38 percent (9-24) on three-pointers and 65 percent at the foul line (20-31). The Warhawks committed 12 turnovers, compared to the Titans' 18.

UW-Oshkosh faces another huge challenge when No. 1 UW-Stevens Point (22-1) visits Kolf Sports Center on Wednesday (Feb. 19).

By Jon Feyen