The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team was unable to find an offensive rhythm early Friday night in a 78-59 setback against No. 12 UW-Oshkosh in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (1-2 overall, 1-2 WIAC) were held to 30 percent shooting in the first half, when they fell behind 14-2 in the first five minutes and trailed by as many as 17 points.
 
UW-Whitewater shot better than 50 percent in the second half, but was unable to draw any closer than 10 points in the second half as the Titans (2-1, 2-1) shot 68 percent in the period.
 
Jack Brahm (Bayside, Wis./Glendale Nicolet) continued his strong play off the bench to lead the Warhawks, totaling a team-best 14 points to go with three rebounds. Gage Malensek (Brookfield, Wis./Central) posted 12 points and four rebounds, and John Ittounas (Vernon Hills, Ill./Stevenson) collected nine points off the bench.
 
Trevon Chislom (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) recorded eight points, and Will Schultz (Brookfield, Wis./Chicago Hope Academy) chipped in with five points and a team-high six rebounds off the bench.
 
UW-Whitewater outscored UW-Oshkosh 48-38 in the paint and 19-8 off turnovers, but the Titans shot 10-of-19 (52.6 percent) from 3-point range and held the Warhawks to 0-of-15 from distance.
 
UW-Oshkosh held a 17-point advantage with 3:18 to play in the first half before Ittounas converted back-to-back buckets to bring the team within 33-20 by halftime.
 
The Titans led by 17 just over six minutes into the second half before a 9-2 run, including layups by Schultz and Malensek, a pair of free throws by JT Hoytink (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) and a 3-point play by Ittounas, brought UW-W to within 51-41 by the 12:13 mark.
 
From there, UW-O scored the next two baskets, and the Warhawks didn't get any closer than 13 the rest of the way.
 
UW-Whitewater returns to the home floor Wednesday for a game against No. 11 UW-Platteville. Tipoff at Kachel Gymnasium is slated for 7 p.m.