The final score is deceptive as UW-W really started to pull away in the final five minutes of the game. Hope College scored the first bucket of the game but the Warhawks rattled off the next seven points at the Dutch never saw the lead again in the first half.

The margin remained thin throughout the half with a double digit advantage posted only once at the 1:13 mark after a Patrick Souter (Racine/St. Catherine's) layup made it 42-31. Hope scored the final five points of the half to narrow the gap to 42-36 as the teams headed into the locker rooms.

UW-W used 11 points off of turnovers to maintain the lead in the first twenty minutes. The teams were virtually even from the field with Whitewater recording one more three pointer than the Dutch but the tipping point came from the free throw line. UW-W hit 12 of their 14 opportunities while Hope was 7-10 from the charity stripe.

The Warhawk held their lead until the midway through the second half. With 10:26 remaining, Ben Gardner gave Hope their first lead since the opening basket, 61-60. UW-W dug down and went on an 18-3 run, eight of those points from the free throw line, to push the lead to 14, 78-64 with 2:14 left in the game. The teams traded points the rest of the way leading to the final, 83-70 in favor of the Warhawks.

Both teams made 27 field goals with Hope more efficient at 47% compared to 44% for Whitewater. The Dutch posted just one more three pointer than UW-W in the game. The difference was made on the free throw line. Hope shot just 13-21 from the line while Whitewater made 27-33, a 14 point swing. 

Four Warhawks scored in double figures led by Eric Bryson (Elkhorn/Elkhorn) with 19 including 7-10 from the line. Quardell Young (Kenosha/Bradford) and KJ Evans (Beloit/Beloit Memorial) each recorded 16 with Evans adding 11 boards for the double-double. Reggie Hearn (Milwaukee/Marshall) added 12 points in the game. Hope's Gardner led all players with 21 points and teammate Nate VanArendonk added 10.

The Warhawks will head to De Pere, Wis. to take on St. Norbert College Tuesday, November 26 at 7:00.