Blue Devils Rally Late To Spoil Titans’ Alumni Day

Blue Devils Rally Late To Spoil Titans' Alumni Day

OSHKOSH, Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team, which for much of the WIAC tilt with UW-Stout fell behind halfway through the second half in the 92-85 loss on Saturday (Jan. 6).

Twenty-four former Titan players and coaches were honored at halftime in the Kolf Sports Center, reaching as far back as the 1950s.

The Titans (7-6, 0-2 WIAC), shot 43.5 percent (30-of-69) from the field, 34.5 percent (10-of-29) from three and 75.0 percent (15-of-20) from the line in the contest, trailing the Blue Devils' marks of 52.5 percent, 42.1 percent, and 81.5 percent. Oshkosh paced Stout with 14 points off turnovers, 38 points in the paint, 11 fast break points and 32 points from its bench.

Michael Metcalf-Grassman (Fr. • Shawano/Waukesha) scored 18 points, going seven-of-11 from the field and four-of-four from the line with five rebounds (two offensive), two steals and two assists.

Matt Imig (So. • Ashwaubenon), Quinn Steckbauer (Sr. • Merrill), Reed Gunnink (Sr. • Brandon) and Will Mahoney (Sr. • Appleton) all eclipsed 10 points as well with 15, 13, 11 and 11, respectively. Carter Thomas (So. • Neenah) was Oshkosh's top rebounders, pulling down eight boards.

Opening the first half, Metcalf-Grassman scored six of the eight points in the Titans' 8-0 spurt. Stout later scored five-straight to pull back within two with 11:18 remaining in the half and got within a point three minutes later. The Titans retained the lead and even made the deficit five points by the time halftime rolled around with a 38-35 Oshkosh lead.

Mahoney and Gunnink started the second half with back-to-back layups and after Stout went on a 5-0 run, Grassman followed a Steckbauer jump shot with a dunk that pushed the Titans' lead into two possession territory. Another Steckbauer layup increased Oshkosh edge to eight points by the media timeout at 14:06. A Stout run from 12:39 to 10:33 gave the Blue Devils their first lead of the night before Imig made a three to take it back. Unfortunately, five Blue Devil points switched the lead again and the lead belonged to Stout for the rest of the night. Two 7-0 spurts kept the Blue Devils in charge, even leading by as much as 13 points with 2:07 to go. Oshkosh's longest run after Stout took the lead for the last time was six points when Steckbauer made a three, stole the ball and made another.

The Titans return to action at home on Wednesday (Jan. 10), facing UW-Platteville at 7 p.m.