The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team put together one of its best defensive performances of the season Wednesday night but was outlasted 48-46 against No. 3 UW-Oshkosh in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest in front of an energetic crowd at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (14-10 overall, 7-6 WIAC) held the Titans to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor, including 24.1 percent in the second half, but were limited to 38.9 percent shooting for the game and 32.3 percent in the second half on the other end.
 
Elijah Lambert (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's) tallied a team-high 11 points to go with five rebounds. Carter Capstran (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) finished with eight points and seven rebounds, while Gage Malensek (Brookfield, Wis./Central) posted eight points and five rebounds.
 
Derek Gray (Madison, Wis./La Follette) grabbed a team-best eight rebounds and added six points, three assists and two steals, and Caleb Flaten-Moore (Ixonia, Wis./Oconomowoc) registered six points and three rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.
 
Neither team led by more than two in the first half until the 11:39 mark, when the Titans (20-3, 10-2) took a 13-9 advantage. UWO extended its lead to as many as nine points, taking advantage of UW-W's nine first-half turnovers and a 9-0 advantage in second-chance points.
 
UW-Oshkosh led 32-24 at halftime following a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the period.
 
UW-Whitewater trimmed a 10-point deficit early in the second down to four by the 16:01 mark following a layup by Lambert. The two teams traded baskets before Flaten-Moore brought the Warhawks to within 38-36 on a short jumper with 12:07 remaining.
 
The Titans continued to hold a slim lead until Capstran's put-back layup tied the game at 43-43 with 3:45 to play.
 
Malensek tied the game again at 46-46 with 1:05 left following a layup and a one-shot technical foul.
 
UW-Oshkosh took the lead for good with just under a minute on the clock. The Warhawks had the final possession of the game but were unable to tie the game or take the lead just before the final buzzer sounded.
 
The WIAC Tournament begins this Friday with first-round games and continues next week Tuesday with the second round. The tournament bracket is set to be revealed late Wednesday night.