The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team used strong shooting Friday night to defeat Colorado College 90-71 in the team's 2016-17 season opener at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (1-0 overall) shot 51.5 percent from the floor, including a 51.9 percent clip (14-of-27) from 3-point range.
 
Freshman guard Zach Knobloch (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) displayed a strong shooting touch in his UW-Whitewater debut, pouring in 23 points on seven 3-pointers, including six in the first half, to go along with five rebounds.
 
Junior guard Chris Jones (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) tallied 13 points, four rebounds and four assists in his Warhawk debut. Junior forward Scotty Tyler (Grafton, Wis./Grafton) and junior guard/forward Demetrius Woodley (Milwaukee, Wis./Vincent) added 10 points apiece off the bench.
 
Sophomore guards Andre Brown (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) and Mitchell Pfeifer (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine) each contributed nine points.
 
After a jumper by the Tigers (0-1) made it a 15-12 game with 13:17 on the clock in the first half, Knobloch hit 3-pointers on four consecutive possessions to jump start a 12-2 run that made it 27-14 with 9:59 left in the period.
 
UW-Whitewater added to its lead on layups by sophomore guard/forward Maurquis Turner (Milwaukee, Wis./King) Tyler and Knobloch to take a 35-18 advantage with 7:21 to play in the half.
 
Pfeifer and Brown converted baskets to match the Warhawks' largest lead of the half at 40-18 with 6:14 remaining.
 
Colorado College went basket-for-basket in the second half with UW-Whitewater, but the Warhawks never led by fewer than 15 during the frame.
 
The Warhawks held advantages in second-chance points (18-7) and bench points (38-25).
 
UW-Whitewater returns to action at Kachel Gymnasium Saturday at 7 p.m. against NAIA opponent Lindsey Wilson (Ky.).