UW-Oshkosh edged UW-Platteville 54-50 in a fiercely competitive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference battle.
The Titans had enough for the last big run of the game, scoring seven straight points to erase a 43-40 Pioneer lead. Andy Jahnke's three-point shot with 3:15 remaining gave UWO the lead for good. The Titans made seven of eight free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.
The Pioneers started the game strong, opening a 16-5 lead as the Titans missed 13 of their first 15 shots. UWP eventually stretched the margin to 26-13 with 5:40 to play in the half.
The Titans answered with a 22-2 run that spanned the end of the first half and the first five minutes of the second period. Chad Doedens' layup gave UWO a 35-30 lead.
The Pioneers re-took the lead by scoring six straight points. Mike Jamerson's driving layup gave the advantage back to the Pioneers at 36-35. After UWO's Nathan Wesenser made one of two free throws to knot the score at 36, the Pioneers' Sean Krause buried a three-point shot for a 39-36 lead. LeVon Crawford's inside move handed the Pioneers a 43-30 lead with 5:17 left, but Jahnke made two free throws with 3:57 remaining and then his go-ahead three-pointer 42 seconds later.
The Titans improved to 8-4 overall and 2-2 in the WIAC, while the Pioneers fell to 6-6, 1-3.
Crawford and Charlie Lohoff led the Pioneers with 10 points apiece. Jahnke led all scorers with 15 points, while the Titans' Matt Miller added 13.
The Pioneers shot 40 percent from the field, while the Titans checked in at 36.6. This marked the sixth time UWP held an opponent under 40 percent this season, but the first time it came in a losing effort.
UW-Platteville returns to action Saturday at UW-Superior for a 3 p.m. game. The next home game is Wednesday vs. UW-Whitewater at 7 p.m.