The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team topped UW-River Falls with a dominant 88-69 win to open the 2025 conference season. The Warhawks shot lights out, hitting 14 threes in the contest.

The Warhawk men and women each pick up wins in the Youth Day Double Header as the women defeated UW-River Falls, 57-50, earlier in the afternoon. 

UW-Whitewater hit the ground running, quickly taking a 20 point lead in the first half. The Warhawks couldn't miss from deep, starting the game out going 8-for-12 from behind the arc. 

The Falcons started to battle back after the Warhawks took their biggest lead at 21. A 13-0 run cut the Warhawks' hold of the game as the Falcons managed to get the deficit down to single digits. JT Hoytink (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) hit a last-second three to put the Warhawks back up by 11 before the half. 

UW-River Falls came out of the break chipping away at the lead, hitting their first three shots from beyond-the-arc. The Warhawks kept pace, only dropping their double-digit lead a few times.

Three consecutive triples fueled an 11-0 Warhawk run to put the lead back at 20-points. Joey Berezowitz (Burlington, Wis./) hit back-to-back treys to cap off the run.

The Warhawks closed the game out on defense, keeping the Falcons off the boards on their way to the 88-69 win to open up WIAC play.

Richie Warren (Racine, Wis./Park) led the Warhawk with 13 points, pulling down 5 rebounds as well. Jameer Barker (Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's) and Jake Quast (Hinsdale, Ill./Central) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 and 11 respectively. 

The Warhawks had a balanced score sheet, with 10 players over five points. Out of the 15 Warhawks to see the floor, 12 gathered a bucket in the contest. 

Luke Bara (Waukesha, Wis./Muskego) and Hoytink each finished with nine, hitting two three pointers each. 

Isaac Verges (Franklin, Wis.) added 7 points and 5 rebounds (four offensive) with Austin Ambrose (Batavia, Ill./) adding another 7 points.

The Warhawks return home on Wednesday, January 8th for their next conference game. UW-Whitewater will take on 11th-ranked UW-Stevens Point at 7 PM in Kachel Gym.