News Release

WHITEWATER, Wi — MEN'S BASKETBALL ... Warhawks Clinch WIAC Title



UW-Whitewater clinched at least a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship with a 59-49 win in Kolf Gymnasium at UW-Oshkosh Wednesday night.

Oshkosh led 25-24 at halftime. Whitewater erased that deficit, and more, with a 16-2 run to start the second half, making the score 40-27 with 13:19 left. Oshkosh cut the margin to four points, four times, the latest 52-48 with 0:55 left on a pair of free throws by forward Jim Capelle. Whitewater's Giovanni Riley, a junior guard, hit five of six free throws, and junior forward Mike Toellner added two FT's, in the time remaining, to preserve the victory.

Whitewater was led senior forward Melvin Williams' 11 points and sophomore forward Rob Perry's 10. Forward Nathan Wesener and center Kerry Gibson led the Titans with 13 points apiece. Gibson also had a game-high nine rebounds and nine blocked shots.

Whitewater's defense forced 21 turnovers (a +10 margin) and Oshkosh hit a season low 28% from the floor.

UW-Whitewater, 12-3 in the WIAC and 18-5 overall, will play at UW-Eau Claire Saturday evening. UW-W beat the Blugolds 70-62 January 4 in Whitewater. UW-Stout, 11-4 in the WIAC but idle Wednesday night, will play at UW-La Crosse Saturday. La Crosse topped the Blue Devils 61-59 January 4 in Menomonie.

Whitewater, 5-1 in league road games, will open the WIAC tournament at home Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00 in Kachel Gym.

UW-W coach Pat Miller will be going for his 100th career victory Saturday. Miller, now 99-32 in his fifth year, could become the fourth UW-Whitewater men's basketball coach to reach that plateau. Bob Weigandt won his 100th game as the Warhawk coach with his seventh win in the 1961-62 season; Chick Agnew won his 100th with the team's second victory in the 1936-37 season; and Dave Vander Meulen earned his in his 147th game, a 70-68 double overtime win over Lewis University December 29, 1983.

For Additional Information:
Pat Miller, UW-W coach, 262-472-1146
UW-W men's basketball web site: www.uww.edu/athletics
WIAC men's basketball web site: http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/mbasket/index.html