Titans To Host Defending National Champion

The UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team puts its three-game winning streak on the line against third-ranked and defending NCAA Division III champion UW-Whitewater on Wednesday (Dec. 3). Tipoff for the Titans' WIAC opener is set for 7 p.m. in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (3-1) has posted three consecutive double-digit victories behind a defense that has held opponents during the streak to an average of 53.3 points on 37.8 percent field goal shooting.

The Titans opened the season with a 67-50 loss at St. Norbert College, which is now ranked 24th in the country. UW-Oshkosh rebounded from its season-opening setback with a 74-56 road victory over Edgewood College and home wins of 76-48 over Blackburn College (Ill.) and 80-56 over Luther College (Iowa).

In UW-Oshkosh's latest triumph over Luther College on Nov. 22, the Titans shot 55.6 percent from the field while holding the Norse to a 38.5 percentage. UW-Oshkosh led, 34-19, after a first half in which the Norse made just 7-of-27 (25.9 percent) of their field goal attempts.

UW-Oshkosh, which was predicted to place fifth in this year's WIAC standings, is averaging 70 points per game while limiting opponents to a WIAC-leading mark of 56.8. The Titans also top the WIAC with an average of 11.8 offensive rebounds per game.

UW-Oshkosh is shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, 37 percent on 3-point attempts and 70.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Sean Dwyer paces UW-Oshkosh by averaging 15 points per game on 60.6 percent shooting from the field. He leads the WIAC and ranks 14th nationally with 4.25 3-pointers per contest. Dwyer has connected on 17-of-28 attempts (60.7 percent) from behind the 3-point arc.

AJ Mueller averages 11.5 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds for the Titans. Alex Olson has added 10.3 points, 4.8 boards, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Kyle Bolger averages 6.2 points per game while leading the team with 16 assists and seven steals.

UW-Whitewater was picked to win the WIAC this season after finishing second last year to UW-Stevens Point in both the regular season and the league's postseason tournament.

Last year, the Warhawks ended their fourth national championship season with a 29-4 record. All four of UW-Whitewater's losses were to WIAC teams.

UW-Whitewater (4-1) began the 2014-15 season ranked first in the country by D3hoops.com, but the Warhawks suffered a 71-66 home loss to NAIA member Cardinal Stritch University in the opener.

UW-Whitewater rebounded from the loss with an 82-80 win at Hope College (Mich.) and neutral-court victories over Bluffton University (Ohio) (67-46), Trinity International University (Ill.) (95-72) and Alma College (Mich.) (84-71). The Warhawks' triumph over Alma College was at The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, Mich.), home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons.

UW-Whitewater leads the WIAC with an average of 78.8 points per game, four blocked shots per game, a .500 field goal percentage and a 46.7 3-point field goal percentage.

Warhawk opponents are averaging 68 points per game and shooting 45.9 percent from the field. UW-Whitewater ranks last in the WIAC with a free-throw percentage of 64.2.

KJ Evans averages 15.2 points and a WIAC-best 8.4 rebounds per game to lead UW-Whitewater. Quardell Young averages 14.6 points to go along with WIAC-leading averages of 5.6 assists and 2.6 steals. Cody Odegaard chips in with an average of 12.2 points per game.

Ron Patten, Drew Bryson and Steve Egan have added averages of 9.5, 9.4 and 9.2 points per game, respectively. Bryson's 62.5 percent (10-16) shooting from behind the 3-point arc leads the WIAC. Egan leads the Warhawks with 63.3 percent (19-30) field goal shooting.

UW-Whitewater has won its last 10 meetings with UW-Oshkosh. The Titans' last victory over the Warhawks was a 65-64 decision on Feb. 18, 2009, in Kolf Sports Center.