Warhawks Defeat Titans In WIAC Opener

WHITEWATER, Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team fell to UW-Whitewater 62-53 at the Williams Center on Wednesday (Jan. 3).

The Titans (7-5, 0-1 WIAC) shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field, 13.6 percent (three-of-22) from three and 40 percent (two-of-five) from the line with 11 fastbreak points and 42 points in the paint. The nationally ranked Warhawks (11-0, 1-0 WIAC) led with 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the field, 21.4 percent (three-of-14) from three and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from the line.

Will Mahoney (Sr. • Appleton) scored 16 points, going 50 percent (seven-of-14) from the field. He made one of his six three-point attempts and one of his three free throw shots. He also recorded a team-leading seven rebounds. Michael Metcalf-Grassman (Fr. • Shawano/Waukesha) followed with 14 points (seven-of-10 from the field) and four rebounds with two steals.

Mahoney followed a Metcalf-Grassman layup with a three to give Oshkosh a lead 2:35 into play. Whitewater responded with five points of its own, holding the Titans at least five points away until Metcalf-Grassman made back-to-back layups to cut the deficit down to 27-23 when the halftime buzzer rang.

After falling behind by 17 points to the Warhawks early in the second half, Oshkosh scored five-straight on a Carter Thomas (So. • Neenah) free throw, Reed Gunnink (Sr. • Brandon) jump shot and Mahoney layup, stealing two possessions in the process. The run pulled the Titans back within 10 points, forcing Whitewater to call a timeout with 6:26 to play. Gunnink and Jay Dalton (Fr. • Fond du Lac) continued the run with two more made shots, making the score 50-44 at about five minutes. Two spurts of four points gave the Warhawks a lead another 5-0 Titan run couldn't overcome.

The Titans return to the Kolf Sports Center on Saturday (Jan. 6) to face UW-Stout (5-7, 0-1 WIAC) for a 5 p.m. tipoff.