Titans To Host Knights In Home Debut

UW-Oshkosh will conduct its men's basketball home opener by hosting Calvin College (Mich.) on Saturday (Dec. 3). The opening tip is set for 3 p.m. in Kolf Sports Center.

Saturday's contest will mark the second meeting between the teams. Calvin College defeated UW-Oshkosh, 75-63, on Dec. 20, 2014.

UW-Oshkosh (2-3) is averaging 70.6 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the floor while Calvin College (2-3) is scoring 75.8 points per contest on 45.9 percent shooting from the field.

The Titans opened the season with an 88-70 victory over Iowa Wesleyan University on Nov. 18 before suffering an 83-72 loss to Wartburg College (Iowa) on Nov. 19. UW-Oshkosh then downed Edgewood College by a 74-63 score on Nov. 22 but lost its past two contests at nationally ranked programs in Illinois - 68-55 to then sixth-ranked Benedictine University last Saturday (Nov. 26) and 77-64 to 17th-ranked Augustana College on Wednesday (Nov. 30).

Benedictine University was the national runner-up a year ago while Augustana College reached the quarterfinal round of the 2016 NCAA Division III Championship.

Sophomore guard Ben Boots paces the Titans with 17.4 points per game on 50 percent (30-60) shooting, including a 47.4 percent (18-38) from 3-point range, and six steals.

UW-Oshkosh junior guard Charlie Noone and sophomore guard Brett Wittchow are both averaging 13.6 points per contest. Noone has a team-best 14 assists while freshman center Jack Flynn leads the team with 24 rebounds.

UW-Oshkosh head coach Pat Juckem, a 1995 Lawrence University graduate, has compiled a 55-57 during his five seasons at the helm. Last season, Juckem guided UW-Oshkosh to its first NCAA postseason appearance since 2003.

Calvin College commenced the regular season with a 90-49 drubbing over Finlandia University (Mich.) before losing three straight games. Augustana College bested Calvin College, 79-60, on Nov. 19 while the Knights lost to Michigan National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) members Cornerstone University on Nov. 25 and Aquinas College last Saturday by scores of 83-55 and 94-86, respectively.

Calvin College snapped its three-game losing streak with an 88-83 win over Carthage College on Tuesday (Nov. 29).

The Knights are led by the 12.6 points per game from junior forward Michael Wilks, 11.8 per contest from senior forward Cam Denney and 10.4 from sophomore forward Austin Bykerk. Denney has a team-leading 6.2 rebounds per game and 20 assists.

Calvin College 21st-year head coach Kevin Vande Streek owns a 361-149 record with the Knights. The 1981 graduate of Dordt College (Iowa) led Calvin College to the 2000 national title and to the national semifinals in 2005.