MILWAUKEE – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team converted 19-of-22 from the free-throw line and committed only nine turnovers Tuesday night in an 81-77 victory at MSOE in a non-conference contest.
The Warhawks (1-0 overall) held advantages in points off turnovers (21-10) and fast-break points (17-6) to offset 53.6 percent shooting from the floor by the Raiders.
Junior forward Equan Ards started his UW-W career with 30 points on 10-of-17 from the floor and 10-of-11 at the free-throw line. Sophomore guard Bailey Kale posted 18 points, and sophomore guard Paul Kingsley totaled 11 points and four rebounds.
Sophomore forward Jack Brahm finished with six points, three rebounds and two assists, and senior guard James Fox contributed five points and five rebounds.
UW-Whitewater gained separation from MSOE (2-1) midway through the first half, taking a 24-15 advantage at the 9:14 mark on a layup by Brahm. The lead jumped to 11 following a layup by Ards with 7:44 left in the half, but the Raiders rallied to within one just over two minutes later.
The Warhawks got the lead back to double digits and all the way up to 13 by halftime after a putback by Fox just before the first-half buzzer sounded.
MSOE clawed back to within a possession six minutes into the second half, tied the game at 57-57 with 13 minutes remaining and held a four-point lead with 12:07 on the clock.
UW-Whitewater then embarked on a 7-0 run as a Kingsley 3-pointer put the team up by three near the midway point of the period.
The two teams went back and forth until the 2:28 mark, when Ards put the Warhawks ahead by two possessions at 76-72. From there, the Raiders got no closer than four.
UW-Whitewater begins a four-game homestand this Friday against No. 7 Washington-St. Louis. Tipoff at Kachel Gymnasium is slated for 8 p.m.