Titans Spread The Wealth In Win Over Blue Devils

Jack Flynn and Will Mahoney led a balanced UW-Oshkosh offense with 17 points apiece as the Titans defeated the UW-Stout men's basketball team, 83-69, Saturday (Jan. 11) in Menomonie.

UW-Oshkosh (8-6, 2-1 WIAC), the defending conference and NCAA Division III champion, took the lead for good at 33-31 with 35 seconds remaining in the first half on the way to its sixth straight win over UW-Stout and 10th in the past 11 meetings. The Titans went on a 12-3 run during a span of more than five minutes in the second half for a 58-46 lead and owned at least a 10-point cushion for the final 8:54 of the contest.

The Titans had five double-digit scorers, including Eddie Muench with 15 points in his first start of the season, Adam Fravert with 14 and Levi Borchert with 11. Fravert led UW-Oshkosh with four assists and four steals.

Flynn collected a season-high 11 rebounds, blocked two shots and made each of his seven free throws on the way to recording his first double-double of the season and 19th career.

Mahoney, who has scored in double figures eight times this season, shot 5-for-9 from the field, 2-for-3 from 3-point range and 5-for-5 at the free throw line.

Muench drained three 3-pointers and finished the game shooting 6-for-11 from the floor.

Flynn, Mahoney and Muench combined to score 38 of the Titans' 50 points during the second half.

UW-Oshkosh concluded the game shooting 45.9 percent (28-61) from the field, 33.3 percent (8-24) from beyond the 3-point arc and 86.4 percent (19-22) at the free throw line.

The Titans owned advantages of 39-33 in rebounds, 10-8 in assists, 9-5 in steals and 3-1 in blocks. Both teams committed 12 turnovers. UW-Oshkosh, which has outrebounded 15 of its last 16 opponents, went into Saturday ranked ninth in the country with 45.1 rebounds per game and 11th nationally with a +9.9 average rebounding margin while leading the WIAC with 82.8 points per game and 52 blocks.

UW-Stout shot 27 of 65 (.415) from the floor, 4-for-26 (.250) from 3-point range and 11 of 15 (.733) at the foul line. The Blue Devils, who pulled down 11 offensive rebounds, entered the day as the conference leader with 14.2 offensive boards and 17.2 turnovers forced per game.

The Blue Devils' Jon Ciriacks led all players with 25 points on 10 of 19 shooting from the floor to go along with a team-best nine rebounds.

UW-Stout (5-9, 1-2 WIAC) starters Luke Geiger and Tyreese Alexander added 16 and 11 points, respectively, as Blue Devil reserves contributed just nine points, eight rebounds and one assist.

The Blue Devils raced out to a 7-2 lead after Ciriacks made a 3-pointer and drove for a layup on consecutive possessions. UW-Oshkosh later claimed its first lead at 20-19 and did not trail the rest of the way following a Fravert layup at the 8:49 mark of the first half.

UW-Stout knotted the score at 27, 29 and 31 before Borchert provided the Titans a 33-31 advantage they would not relinquish with 35 seconds remaining in the opening period.

Leading 52-46 midway through the second half, UW-Oshkosh scored 11 of the next 13 points for a 63-48 advantage with 7:34 left. Flynn made a pair of free throws for a 56-46 lead, and UW-Oshkosh led by at least 10 points the rest of the way. The Titans held their largest lead of 19 points at 82-63 after two Mahoney free throws with 83 seconds remaining.

UW-Stout has not won at home over UW-Oshkosh since a 57-52 decision on Feb. 8, 2014.

UW-Oshkosh travels to UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday (Jan. 15).

Photo courtesy of Layne Pitt, UW-Stout Sports Information