Titans Outlast Second-Ranked Vikings In Double Overtime

Ben Boots scored seven of his team-leading 23 points during the second overtime session, Adam Fravert and Jack Flynn both recorded double-doubles, and UW-Oshkosh knocked off Augustana College (Ill.), 95-89 in double overtime, in a clash of nationally ranked men's basketball teams on Saturday (Dec. 2) in Kolf Sports Center.

UW-Oshkosh (5-0), ranked 18th in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, took a 76-74 lead on a layup by Boots with four seconds left in regulation, but second-ranked Augustana College's Chrishawn Orange drove the length of the floor for a layup at the buzzer to send the game to overtime tied at 76.

Augustana College (4-1) reclaimed an 80-79 advantage – its first lead since the 5:24 mark of the second half – on a jumper by Dylan Sortillo with 2:55 to play in the first overtime. UW-Oshkosh's Brett Wittchow then drilled a 3-pointer for an 82-80 Titan advantage with 75 seconds remaining in overtime, but the Vikings' Brett Benning hit a pair of free throws to tie the score at 82 with 42 seconds to go.

After the Titans missed a 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds to go in overtime, Orange's potential game-winning shot from the lane rimmed out as time expired.

Trailing 87-86 with just over two minutes left in the second overtime, UW-Oshkosh took the lead for good at 88-87 as Charlie Noone sank two free throws after being fouled near midcourt. The Titans extended their lead to 90-87 on a tip-in by Alex Van Dyke with 48 seconds remaining.

Benning's 3-pointer was off the mark on the subsequent Augustana College possession, and Boots went 5-for-6 at the free throw line during the final 30 seconds to secure the UW-Oshkosh victory.

UW-Oshkosh, which defeated the Vikings for the first time in 11 all-time meetings, concluded the contest with a 48-35 rebounding advantage, including 19-11 on the offensive end. The Titans also owned edges in turnovers (16-13), assists (12-9) and steals (8-3).

Augustana College outshot the Titans, .471 (33-70) to .441 (30-68), from the field.

The Titans converted 31 of 45 (.689) free throws and shot 4-for-24 (.167) from 3-point range while Augustana College hit 20 of 28 (.714) free throws and shot 3-for-17 (.176) from beyond the 3-point arc.

UW-Oshkosh's 45 free throw attempts were the third-most in program history and its highest total since accumulating 46 shots at the foul line against UW-Eau Claire on Feb. 12, 2000.

Augustana College, which reached the final game of last season's Division III Championship, entered Saturday's contest ranked 10th nationally by limiting opponents to 36.6 percent shooting from the floor while UW-Oshkosh listed 16th by holding teams to 37.3 percent.

Boots concluded the game shooting 6-for-15 from the field and 11 of 15 at the free throw line while adding a game-high four assists.

Wittchow finished with 19 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the floor for the Titans.

Fravert, who had his third double-double in the past four games, registered 18 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals.

UW-Oshkosh also received 17 points from Charlie Noone, and 11 points and 11 rebounds from Flynn. Seven of Flynn's rebounds were on the offensive end.

The Titans built a 17-9 lead following a jumper from Fravert at the 12:10 mark of the first half before extending their advantage to 34-24 on a free throw by Boots with 2:37 left in the opening period.

A pair of free throws from Fravert gave UW-Oshkosh a 36-26 lead late in the first half, but Orange drove for a layup to trim the Vikings' deficit to 36-28 at intermission.

UW-Oshkosh held the largest lead by either team at 47-36 after a pair of free throws from Flynn with 15:17 to go in the second half.

Augustana College answered with a 21-9 scoring run over the next seven minutes to take a 57-56 advantage with 8:33 to go in the second period. The Vikings held their last lead during regulation at 63-61, but layups by Fravert and Wittchow preceded a 3-pointer from Noone that gave the Titans a 68-63 advantage at the 3:35 mark of the second half.

Leading 73-69 with 1:47 remaining in regulation, UW-Oshkosh missed a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws before Orange converted two free throws to pull Augustana College within 73-71 with 26 seconds to play in the second period.

UW-Oshkosh committed a turnover on its next possession, and the Vikings' Lucas Simon split a pair of free throws to trim their deficit to 73-72.

Fravert made one of two free throws to make the score 74-72. Augustana College's Micah Martin then pulled down an offensive rebound and scored in the lane to knot the score at 74 with 10 seconds left before Boots and Orange traded layups before time expired in the half.

Orange paced the Vikings with 23 points on 9-for-20 shooting from the floor.

Sortillo had 20 points for Augustana College, which also received 18 points from Nolan Ebel, and 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks from Martin off the bench.

Augustana College fell, 79-78, to Babson College (Mass.) in last year's national championship game. The Vikings also advanced to the national title game in 1981, 1993 and 2015.

UW-Oshkosh hosts Finlandia University (Mich.) on Tuesday (Dec. 5) in Kolf Sports Center.