UW-W built a 46-30 halftime lead, increased it to 48-30 with the first basket of the second half, and then hung on to edge UW-River Falls 88-82 in overtime at the Karges Center in River Falls, Wisconsin Saturday afternoon.

box score

There is something about this matchup that gives the fans more for their money.  The last overtime game UW-W was involved in was also against River Falls, January 6 of last season.

UW-W, 10-2 overall and 3-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, is ranked seventeenth in the D3hoops.com national poll.  UW-River Falls is 7-6 overall and 1-3 in the WIAC.

Whitewater shot 65% from the floor in building its halftime lead, with junior guards Matt Goodwin (Milwaukee/Rufus King) (12) and Myles McKay (Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls) (11), and junior center Kori Vernon (Madison/Memorial) (10) scoring in double figures for the Warhawks. UW-W also out-rebounded the Falcons 18-8 in the first twenty minutes.

River Falls' pressure defense limited UW-W to 35% shooting and eleven turnovers in the second half, setting the stage for senior forward Kelly Scott's game-tying three pointer with three seconds left in regulation. 

Despite the change in momentum, the Warhawks never trailed in the game.  Senior forward Rob Perry (Milwaukee/Dominican) scored five points in the overtime and Goodwin added four as UW-W outscored UW-RF 14-8 in the extra session.

Perry led UW-W with 23 points, the fifth time this season he has scored 20+ points.  Goodwin added 22, and McKay 15.  The trio also led Warhawks in rebounding (Perry 9, McKay 8, Goodwin 7) and assists (three each).

Junior guard DiJon Reese scored 25 for the Falcons, with sophomore forward Nate Robinson adding 11.  Both grabbed five rebounds to lead UW-RF.  The Falcons finished the game with just eight turnovers, while Whitewater had seven.

The Warhawks win was aided by a 44-32 rebound advantage, and making 24-34 free throws.  River Falls was 15-25 from the line.

UW-W will play at UW-La Crosse Wednesday January 9.   The next home game will be Saturday, January 19 at 5:00 versus UW-Stout in the Kachel Gym in Williams Center.