The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball clinched at least a share of the WIAC regular season title with a 80-70 win over UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday night. The Warhawks handed #19 UW-Stevens Point their first loss at home this season to clinch their 16th regular season title, first since 2015, and first under head Coach Jarod Wichser. 

From the jump, the three-ball was going up early for both teams, with four straight threes to begin the scoring. The back-&-forth scoring didn't end there, with neither team taking more than a two-point lead in the first five minutes.

Collin Madson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) ended the two-point difference with a three-ball to give the Warhawks a 15-12 lead, their largest of the first half. UW-Stevens Point was able to answer back with a lay-up and three to retake the lead. UW-Whitewater would only hold the lead one more time in the first half, at 19-18 with 10:14 to go.

UW-Stevens Point was able to stay in front of the Warhawks the rest of the half, but UW-Whitewater kept it a close game, not allowing the Pointers to take much of a lead into the break. After the first 20 minutes, UWSP led 35-28.

At the half, UW-Whitewater shot 47.6% (10-for-21) from the floor and 37.5% from three (3-for-9). UW-Stevens Point notched 54.2% (13-for-24) and 44.4% (4-for-9) from three

Luke Bara (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) kicked off the half with a three-pointer for the Warhawks, but UW-Stevens Point answered back with one of their own to keep the lead at seven. The Warhawk offense was able to get going, though, with Madson & Bara scoring four each on an 8-0 run, to cut the Pointer lead to just two points at 41-39.

Kelton McEwen (Bartlett, Ill./St. Francis) put together an 8-0 run on his own, giving the Warhawks their first lead since 10 minutes to go in the first half. UW-Stevens Point hit two free throws, but McEwen wasn't done yet, hitting another three-pointer to outscore the Pointers 11-2 in just two minutes. 

The Pointers started to get their footing back underneath them, but the multiple runs by the Warhawks set the tone early for the second half. The closest the Pointers closed the score to was six, but a Madson three-pointer quieted the home crowd with just four minutes left.

The Warhawks took their biggest lead of the night with just 86-seconds to go. Madson's three-pointer put UWW up 12 at 73-61. With just a minute to go, UWW closed the game out from the free-throw line, making 7-of-8 free throws in the final 60 seconds.

The Warhawks outscored the Pointers 52-35 in the second half, firing on all cylinders, shooting 56.7% (17-for-30) from the floor and 63.6% (7-for-11) from deep. UWW forced eight turnovers from the Pointers, while only committing one of their own in the second half.

Madison led the Warhawks with 23 points, pulling down five rebounds. Luke Bara (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) followed with 14 points. Kelton McEwen (Bartlett, Ill./St. Francis) rounded out double-digit scorers with 11, all coming during the two-minute stretch that put the Warhawks up for good. 

Isaac Verges (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) & Jake Quast (Hinsdale, Ill./Central) led the Warhawks on the boards with seven and six, respectively. As a team, the Warhawks out-rebounded UWSP 29-26.

The Warhawks will return home for their final regular-season game of the season, taking on UW-River Falls at home. The Senior Night game is scheduled to tip off at 5 PM in Kachel Gym.