The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team fell to UW-La Crosse in the WIAC Championship game. The back and forth game featured 11 ties, with the Eagles securing the game from the free throw line. In all three match-ups this year between the Warhawks and Eagles, the visiting team won by three in the match-up.

In the championship game, Richie Warren (Racine, Wis./Park) began the scoring with a three-point play on the Warhawks first possession. UW-La Crosse responded back with a 11-2 run to take a six point lead at the under-16, 11-5. The six-point lead would be the largest of the night for the Eagles, with each team battling for the full 40-minutes.

The Warhawks took control of the game with a 18-3 run. Kelton McEwen (Bartlett, Ill./St. Francis) capped off the run with a three-pointer to give the Warhawks a nine-point lead at 23-14, their largest lead of the night. 

The Eagles were able to chip away at the lead, eventually tying it before the break with a put-back layup at the buzzer. 

Coming out of the break, both teams traded baskets to keep the score even for the first five minutes. The Eagles were the first to pull away by more than two points, hitting back to back shots to take a 51-47 lead at the 14-minute mark. 

The Warhawks were able to get the momentum back on their side with a step-back three-pointer from Luke Bara (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) to give the Warhawks their first lead of the season half. The Warhawks extended their lead out to six, thanks to another three-pointer from Tyshawn Teague-Johnson (Beloit, Wis./Turner) and a driving layup from Bara. 

With 9-minutes to go, UWW led 65-59, but the Eagles quickly erased the lead with three straight baskets. The Warhawks were able to answer back with another 6-0 run to regain the lead, UW-La Crosse were able to stay in the game knotting it  up at 73 with just 2-minutes left to play. 

Jake Quast (Hinsdale, Ill./Central) put the Warhawks up 75-73 with a layup. UWL matched the points with a free throw and fast-break lay-up, shifting the scoreboard back to their side. With 16 seconds left, an and-one layup gave the Eagles a four-point lead.

Isaac Verges (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) gave some life to the Warhawks with 8-seconds left, connecting on his own three-point play. Forced to foul, the Eagles went to the free throw line. After making the first, UWL gained the offensive rebound sending them back to the line. 

The Eagles went 2-for-4 on their final free throw attempts, setting up the Warhawks to send the game into overtime. Collin Madson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) was able to get a look off, but the shot went long off the backboard.

Luke Bara (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led the Warhawks with 14 points, pulling down seven rebounds and dishing out three assists. Isaac Verges (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) and Collin Madson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) each had 13 points. Verges had three assists and two steals. Madson led the team with 8 rebounds. Tyshawn Teague-Johnson (Beloit, Wis./Turner) added in 8 points. Richie Warren (Racine, Wis./Park) and Jake Quast (Hinsdale, Ill./Central) each had seven. 

The Warhawks will await the selection show for their placement in the NCAA Division III Tournament. UWW is currently 17th in the NPI rankings (as of 2/27/2026). The selection show is set to be released at 1 PM ET on Monday, March 2nd.