The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team begins the final month of the regular season with a pair of Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games this week looking to maintain its standing among the top half of the conference.
The Warhawks (12-7 overall, 5-3 WIAC) visit No. 8 UW-La Crosse this Wednesday at 7 p.m. before hosting UW-River Falls for Senior Day Presented by Educators Credit Union this Saturday at 5 p.m. Both games can be heard live on KIX 106.5 FM WKCH in the Whitewater area or online at
kix1065.com.
Saturday's game will air live on UWW-TV on channel 100.1 on campus, Spectrum channel 989 for subscribers in the area or online at
uwwtv.org. Visit the team's
schedule page for links to follow Wednesday's game live online.
Prior to Saturday's game, UW-Whitewater will recognize seniors
Jack Brahm (Bayside, Wis./Glendale Nicolet),
Brian Conaghan (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) and
Paul Kingsley (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita of Cascia).
Playing their lone game of the week last Wednesday, the Warhawks came back from 14 points down near the midway point of the second half to force overtime and eventually emerge with an 85-79 victory at UW-Stevens Point.
Gage Malensek (Brookfield, Wis./Central) scored 19 points and hit two key jumpers in the final 90 seconds of regulation, and
Derek Gray (Madison, Wis./La Follette) tallied nine of his team-high 23 points in overtime for UW-W, which shot 50 percent from the floor while holding the Pointers to 39.4 percent.
Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m. – at UW-La Crosse (Radio: KIX 106.5 FM WKCH)
UW-La Crosse (16-3, 6-3) split a pair of games last week, falling 76-72 at No. 2 UW-Platteville before rebounding Saturday with a 95-60 victory against Bethel (Minn.). The Eagles shot a sizzling 58.1 percent from the floor and 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from 3-point range in the contest.
Ethan Anderson leads the Eagles in scoring with 18.6 points per game on 52.1 percent shooting from the floor. Wyatt Cook also averages double figures in scoring with 11.6 points per game to go along with a team-high 6.0 rebounds per outing. UWL boasts the league's No. 1 scoring defense, surrendering just 62.0 points per game on a conference-best 39.4 percent opponent field goal percentage.
On Jan. 19, the Warhawks fell behind by 18 in the first half and was unable to mount a second-half comeback in a 79-61 loss at Kachel Gymnasium. UW-La Crosse shot 51.3 percent from the floor and out-rebounded UW-W by a 38-29 margin.
Derek Gray (Madison, Wis./La Follette) led UW-Whitewater with 19 points and five rebounds, and
Carter Capstran (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) added 10 points.
The Warhawks lead the all-time series between the two teams 85-52, including a 14-5 advantage under head coach
Pat Miller for games played in La Crosse.
Saturday, Feb. 5, 5 p.m. – vs. UW-River Falls (TV: UWW-TV; Radio: KIX 106.5 FM WKCH)
UW-River Falls (9-8, 2-6) suffered a 100-83 home loss against UW-Stout last Wednesday in its lone game of the week. The Falcons shot 52.5 percent from the floor in the contest but were unable to overcome 56.5 percent shooting by the Blue Devils, including 14-of-25 from 3-point range.
Noah Hanson leads the Falcons with 19.1 points per game to go with 6.0 rebounds per game. Rodrick Payne shoots 53.5 percent from the floor on his way to 14.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per affair. UWRF enters the week ranked first in the WIAC with 4.41 blocked shots per game.
The Warhawks were held to 38.9 percent shooting, including 30.8 percent in the second half, back on Jan. 15 in a 76-60 setback in River Falls. Capstran tallied 15 points and five rebounds, Gray posted 14 points and 11 rebounds and
Elijah Lambert (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's) finished with 11 points for UW-W. UW-River Falls shot 54.7 percent in the game and 9-of-20 from 3-point range.
UW-Whitewater holds a 77-50 edge in the all-time series between the two teams.
Prior to Saturday's trip to Whitewater, the Falcons open the week Wednesday with a visit to UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m.
