Issued: January 15, 2003

BLUGOLD MEN DROP SECOND STRAIGHT OVERTIME GAME

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team shot just 1-of-7 in overtime en route to falling to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent UW-Oshkosh 74-70 here tonight at W.L. Zorn Arena.

Eau Claire's record falls to 10-5 on the season and 3-4 in WIAC play after a 3-0 start in the conference. The Titans improve to 12-3 overall and 3-3 in conference play and are currently ranked 19th in the country according to D3hoops.com

Throughout the game the score was tied on 16 different occasions with the lead switching hands 11 times. The Blugolds shot 65 percent in the first half but slipped to just under 41 percent in the second half while the Titans improved from 53.6 to 55.6 percent from the first half to the second half.

The game seemed to belong to the Blugolds early in the first half as Eau Claire jumped to a quick 16-9 lead. Jason Larson (Sr-Sugarland,TX/Stephen F. Austin) scored 10 points for the Blugolds in the first 7:15 but would be held to just eight points for the remainder of the game. The Titans bounced back from the early seven point deficit and evened the scoreboard at 18 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the first half and took their first lead of the game via an 8-0 run with 10:15 to play in the half. Eau Claire again took the lead and extended it to seven points but the Titans ended the half on a 9-1 lead to take a 36-35 lead into the locker room.

The second half saw neither team lead by more than four points as the game-went back and forth with the score was tied nine separate times. With the Blugolds down 66-65 with 32 seconds left to play in the game Andy Witte (Sr-Madison/Monona Grove) stepped to the free throw line and hit the first of two free throws to even the score at 66. Witte missed the second rebound but Tyler Birkel (Fr-Spring Valley) grabbed the offensive rebound and put back the lay-up to give the Blugolds a two point lead with 27 seconds remaining. The Titans moved down the court and scored with six seconds remaining to tie the game. Will Jefferson (So-Wausau/East) missed a last second three point attempt and both teams prepared themselves for a five minute overtime period.

Eau Claire scored on the first possession in overtime to take the lead and also held the Titans for three straight possessions but was unable to widen the lead beyond two. The Titans finally tied the game up with 2:18 left to play. The score remained locked at 70 until 16 seconds left to play when Scott Sowinski hit a three point shot for the Titans to give them a 73-70 lead. Dan Archambault's (So-Oshkosh/West) three-point attempt was off the mark and Oshkosh converted on one of two free throw attempts to ice the game with a 74-70 victory. Prior to Sowinski's tray the Titans had never led by more than two points.

Jason Larson finished with team-high's in points and rebounds with 18 and five. Andy Witte finished the game with 12 points despite seeing just 24 minutes due to first-half foul trouble. Will Jefferson added 10 points in the Blugold effort.

Tim Dworak led the way for the Titans with 19 points, scoring 15 of his 19 in the second half and overtime. Andy Fernholz and Scott Sowinski each added 15 points for Oshkosh.

Eau Claire will resume action this Saturday when they will travel to Winona, MN to battle the Cardinals from St. Mary's. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.

Eau Claire-Oshkosh Box