Titans Travel To La Crosse For WIAC Tournament Opener

UW-Oshkosh will be the guest of UW-La Crosse when the teams meet in a first-round contest of the WIAC Men's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday (Feb. 26). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Mitchell Hall.

UW-Oshkosh brings a 12-13 record into its first WIAC postseason visit since 2009. The sixth-seed Titans posted a 7-9 mark during the league's regular season to share fifth place in the standings with UW-Stout.

UW-La Crosse takes a 16-9 record into its fifth straight WIAC Tournament appearance. The third-seed Eagles compiled a 10-6 league mark to share third place with UW-Platteville. 

UW-Oshkosh has won seven of its last 11 games, including a 67-58 victory over UW-Superior on Feb. 22. The four defeats include setbacks of 66-65 to UW-La Crosse on Jan. 29 and 70-51 to regular-season champion UW-Stevens Point on Feb. 19.

UW-La Crosse is the owner of a two-game winning streak, including a 63-55 triumph over UW-Stout in its last contest on Feb. 19. The Eagles have won four of their last five games, with the lone defeat being a 63-45 loss to UW-Whitewater on Feb. 12.

UW-Oshkosh is led in scoring by Jade Royston, who averages 11.2 points per game. Alex Olson scores 10.1 points per game while marking a team-high 41 steals. Freshman Max Schebel tops the Titans with 115 rebounds. UW-Oshkosh is leading the conference with .721 accuracy on free throws.

The Eagles top the WIAC in three-point baskets with 9.3 per game. Calahan Skogman paces the team with 15 points per game, as Lucas Collom and Luke Tweed both average 11 points. Skogman also ranks fifth in the conference with 6.1 rebounds per contest.

UW-Oshkosh is 14-9 in WIAC Tournament games, including a 9-2 mark in the first round. UW-La Crosse is 6-11 during the WIAC Tournament, but just 3-8 in the first round.

UW-Oshkosh and UW-La Crosse have only two previous WIAC Tournament meetings. The Eagles won both contests, 66-61 in 2007 and 70-67 (overtime) in 2006.

Wednesday's other first-round game has fifth-seed UW-Stout (12-13) playing at fourth-seed UW-Platteville (15-10).

Top-seed UW-Stevens Point (24-1) and second-seed UW-Whitewater (22-3) received a bye and will host semifinal round games on Friday (Feb. 28).

The championship contest is scheduled for Sunday (March 2). The winner of the WIAC Tournament receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.