The UW Oshkosh men’s basketball team lost its third straight game after falling to UW-La Crosse 78-67 at Mitchell Hall on Wednesday (Feb. 14).
With the loss, the Titans (10-14, 3-10 WIAC) sit in last place in the WIAC and are out of contention for the WIAC tournament.
UWO shot 35.4% from the field and 8.3% from behind the arc in the loss. The Titans turned the ball over nine times but finished the contest with four steals and four blocked shots.
Oshkosh was led by Will Mahoney, who scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds on 8-for-16 shooting from the floor. Michael Metcalf-Grassman finished with 19 points and nine rebounds while Quinn Steckbauer added eight points.
Steckbauer converted on a pair of free throws to begin the first half, but UWL (14-10, 8-5 WIAC) responded with a 3-pointer to take an early 3-2 lead. Back-to-back baskets from La Crosse gave the Eagles an 8-4 lead, but Mahoney converted on a layup with 14 minutes remaining to pull the Titans to within two points.
The two teams were neck and neck for most of the first half until two straight jumpers from La Crosse put the home team on top 26-20. Mahoney was able to cut the deficit to four points with a jump shot, but the Eagles went on a 5-0 spurt with five minutes to go that put La Crosse on top by nine points.
A pair of Steckbauer free throws sparked a 4-0 Oshkosh run at the end of the half, but La Crosse’s Torin Hannah nailed a 3-pointer with three seconds left to put the Eagles on top 40-31 at halftime.
Hannah hit two free throws to begin the second half, giving La Crosse an 11-point advantage. The Eagles enjoyed at least a 10-point lead for the majority of the second half until a jumper from Metcalf-Grassman cut the deficit to 47-39 with 13 minutes remaining.
Austin Westra converted on a layup on La Crosse’s possession which sparked a 7-0 Eagles run that gave UWL a 15-point lead. La Crosse took a 61-41 lead after a 3-pointer with under nine minutes to play, and the Eagles enjoyed a 20-point lead for the next four minutes until Oshkosh’s Jack Jorgenson hit a 3-pointer. A pair of Mahoney free throws jump started an 8-0 run that cut the lead down to eight points with under two minutes to go, but that would be as close as Oshkosh came to La Crosse and the Eagles cruised to an 11-point victory.
UWO will return to the Kolf Sports Center on Saturday (Feb. 17) to take on UW-Stevens Point for Senior Night with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
