It would be easy to go straight to the scorebook and note that Antone Byrd (Milwaukee/Washington) and Chris Davis (Madison/East) combined for 60 points, but that would be overlooking a defensive play in the second overtime that may have saved the game for UW-Whitewater, an 89-87 winner over UW-Oshkosh in double overtime at the Kolf Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin Wednesday.

box score

Oshkosh junior guard Greg Schrimpf hit a three-pointer with :08 seconds left in regulation to tie the game 69-69.  With Whitewater ahead again in the first overtime, Schrimpf nailed another three, this time with 0:18 on the clock, to send the game into the second extra period. 

With Whitewater again holding a precarious 86-84 lead, Schrimpf went for the tie with a driving layup but  Byrd, a 6-2 sophomore guard, blocked the shot and Davis came up with the ball. 

Senior guard DJ Dantzler (Joliet, IL/Joliet Township) hit two free throws with 0:24 left in the second overtime to give UW-W an 88-84 lead, and after Oshkosh closed it to 88-86 he made one of two with five seconds left to make the Warhawk lead 89-87. 

Neither team was able to take control in the first half.  Although Oshkosh led most of the first ten minutes, the Titans' lead was two or three points.  A 6-0 spurt by UW-W, ended with a three by freshman guard Cody Odegaard (Poynette/Poynette), put UW-W in front 25-18 with 7:32 left.  The margin increased to eight, the largest by either team in the half, at 30-22 with 4:21 on the clock when junior center Chris Davis (Madison/East) hit second three of the half.  A layup by sophomore guard Antone Byrd (Milwaukee/Washington) as the clock expired sent Whitewater into the lockerroom with a 35-30 lead. 

The Warhawks forged their lead by hitting 57% of their shots, including 4-8 from beyond the arc, while Oshkosh was shooting just 41%.  The Titans stayed close because they out-rebounded UW-W, 18-10, with UW-O grabbing ten offensive boards.  Davis led both teams with 14 points, while junior forward John Flanigan topped the Titans with 10.

Davis scored Whitewater's first nine points of the second half.  The Titans knotted the score at 43-43 on two free throws by sophomore forward Brian Washington, and UW-O took their only lead of the half on a free throw by sophomore forward Paul Wojahn at 12:01.  Byrd made layups on the next three UW-W trips down the floor, in a span of 52 seconds, to make it 51-45 Whitewater with 11:07 remaining.  Senior point guard Phil Negri (Minocqua/Lakeland) hit his only three of the night to give the Warhawks their biggest lead at 62-54 at 7:48, but within two minutes the lead was whittled back to 62-60, where it hovered to set up Schrimpf's heroics.

The two overtime game was the first for UW-W since February 18, 2006, a 91-88 win at Eau Claire.  But the Warhawks aren't strangers to playing a bit more, with three of their last five games needing extra time.

Just as in the first half, Whitewater shot better for the game, 56% to 42%, but the Titans got more chances by ruling the boards 41-30.  In a game that went through two overtimes, UW-O committed just nine turnovers, and Whitewater 14. 

Keeping that key defensive play in mind, Davis and Byrd were the show for UW-W.  Both scored 30 points.  That topped Byrd's previous high of 28 in the win over Marian December 18, and just missed Davis' high of 32.  Davis went 12-21 from the field and 4-4 from the line.  Byrd was 11-16 and 8-10.  Davis also led UW-W with 13 rebounds.  Davis' stats gave him his tenth double double of the season.  Negri led UW-W with six assists and three steals.

Flanigan led four Titans in double figures.  In fact, Flanigan had a higher rebound total than any of his teammates tallied in points.  Flanigan had a game high 19 rebounds to go with his 25 points, and he had just one turnover in 42 minutes.  Wojahn added 16 points, senior guard Cory Wittwer 15, and Washington 11.

Whitewater is 10-5 overall and 3-3 in the WIAC.  Oshkosh is 6-8 and 1-5.  UW-W will travel to Eau Claire for a 3:00 tipoff Saturday, and return home to host UW-Platteville Wednesday, January 19 at 7:00 in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach