Titans Drop Final Winter Classic Matchup
OSHKOSH, Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team fell to Marian University (Wis.) on Friday night in the final game of the BSN Winter Classic, hosted by Oshkosh in the Oshkosh Arena.
First Half Summary
After falling behind 5-0 early in the first half, Eric Peterson scored the first basket for Oshkosh with a layup with 17:24 remaining. The Titans kept the run going, scoring four more points in the next two minutes. The teams stayed within three points of each other, trading leads until Quinn Steckbauer made the score 28-24 for a short-lived four-point lead with 3:29 remaining in the half. Akeemis Williams made a three shortly after to bring the score within one. The first half ended with a 33-30 Oshkosh lead.
First Half Leaders
The Titans shot 41.7 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three and 57.1 percent from the line in the half. Levi Borchert led all scorers with 13 points, going five-of-nine from the field and three-of-four from three. He also recorded six rebounds (three offensive).
The Sabres shot 44.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three and 33.3 percent from the line in the half. William White led Marian with nine points, going three-of-four from the field, one-of-two from three and two-of-four from the line. Jarrett Henderson was their top rebounder, recording four (one offensive). Tyler Gouin recorded three assists.
Second Half Summary
Oshkosh didn't have a lead of more than four until Borchert made a layup with 15:34 remaining in the game to make the score 41-37. The Sabres took their first lead of the half at 12:51 when David Britton made a layup to make the score 45-44. The lead changed two times more until Borchert score a basket to make the score 49-48. The lead lasted until there was 4:22 left in the game. Tyler Bunkoske made a layup with make the score 67-65 to give the Sabres their final lead. Marian outscored Oshkosh 12-9 the rest of the way, winning 79-74.
Full Game Leaders
Oshkosh shot 44.7 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from three and 60.0 percent from the line. Borchert ended the game with 21 points, going eight-of-12 from the field and five-of-eight from the line. He also pulled in 10 rebounds (six offensive) to record the 31st double-double of his career. Hunter Plamann and Peterson each scored more than 10 points, recording 14 and 12 respectively. Freshman Carter Thomas set a season-high in points with seven. Quinn Steckbauer ended the game with three assists.
Marian shot 56.4 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from three and 50.0 percent from the line. Gouin led the Sabres with 25 points, going 10-of-15 from the field, one-of-one from three and four-of-eight from the line. He also led with four assists. David Britton scored 18 points, second on the team. White led the bench with 13 points, also leading Marian with five rebounds (two offensive).
Other Men's Winter Classic Game
In the other men's game on Saturday, UW-Eau Claire beat Ohio Wesleyan University 58-50. Brock Voigt led the Blugolds with 14 points, also leading with six rebounds. Grant Spicer led the Bishops with 11 points. David Rice and Jack Clement each recorded five rebounds.
All-Classic Team
Borchert was named to the BSN Winter Classic All-Classic Men's Team, joined by Eau Claire's Voigt and Michael Casper, Ohio Wesleyan's Clement, and Marian's Britton.
Looking Forward
The Titans return to action on Jan. 4 to face Eau Claire on the road at 7:00 p.m. The Blugolds currently hold a 9-4 (1-1 WIAC) record, currently on a two-game winning streak, taking both Winter Classic games.
Tournament information can be found here.