Notables

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The last time the UW-Oshkosh men's basketball team was in first place in February, the league was still the WSUC, and head coach Ted Van Dellen was in a Titans uniform.

But two and a half decades after their last conference championship, the No. 10 Titans are again holding the top spot – tied with UW-La Crosse – this time in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The Titans earned that lofty spot with a thrilling 71-70 win at league-leading and No. 17-ranked Whitewater Wednesday night, that wasn't clinched until Scott Sowinski hit a layup in the paint with four seconds left in the game.

Whitewater went on a 9-0 run with 3:08 left to take a 70-69 lead with 55 seconds remaining. Van Dellen called a time out at 28 seconds, and coming out of the huddle, Tim Dwoark missed a jumper at with seven seconds left.

The rebound fell into the hands of Sowinski who immediately put it back up, and gave Oshkosh the win.

The bucket capped off an otherwise quiet night for Sowinski, who finished with eight points and four rebounds. Oshkosh was led junior guard Nick Scherer who poured in 21 points, including five three-pointers.

Dworak, who leads the WIAC in scoring with 22.8 points per game, dropped in 17 and grabbed 10 rebounds for Oshkosh, which improved to 17-4 overall, 9-4 WIAC. The game was the ninth of the year that he has posted a double-double.

Whitewater (16-6, 9-5) was led by Jake Wolter's 18 points, while Londen Donlow added 12 of his own. Aubrey Lewis-Byers pulled down a team-high seven rebounds while adding 11 points.

With three games to play, Oshkosh now holds a half-game lead over the Warhawks and by virtue of a season sweep, the Titans would earn home-court advantage and the top seed in the WIAC Tournament should the teams finish the regular season tied.

The Titans continue the tough WIAC schedule by hosting No. 16 UW-Stevens Point on Saturday night.