MENS BASKETBALL…UW-W 4-3 After Win in Superior

UW-Superior's shooting in the first half was the hottest thing in the north country since July 4, but like the weather in Superior it eventually cooled off and UW-Whitewater defeated the Yellowjackets 77-71 at Mortorelli Gym in Superior Saturday afternoon.

Whitewater's last, and brief, lead in the first half was 23-22 on an Alex Edmunds layup at 7:03.  Superior used an 11-3 spurt to build the largest lead of the game, by either team, at 38-28 with 3:08 before intermission.  The Yellowjackets still had a ten point lead, 41-31 with 2:14 left, and went in to halftime with a 44-38 advantage.

UW-W shot well in the first half, hitting 56% of their field goals, including 50% (5-10) from beyond the arc.  But that was nothing compared to UW-S, which connected on 64% of their shots from the floor and 80% (8-10) of their three pointers.

But the glass slipper didn't fit in the second half.  Whitewater scored the first twelve points of the half to take a 53-44 lead, and UW-W never trailed the rest of the way.  Superior did whittle the margin to two points, twice, at 57-55 with 9:21 left and 64-62 with 5:06 on the clock.  Whitewater followed the second near miss with a 7-0 run that put the Warhawks in front 71-62 with 3:21 in the game and held on the rest of the way. 

Someone must have opened a door to the outside in the Superior lockerroom at halftime, because UW-S shot just 32% in the final twenty minutes while Whitewater shot at a 60% clip.

UW-W junior center Chris Davis took game scoring honors with 21 points on 9-14 shooting from the floor, also adding a game high eight rebounds.  Edmunds added 18 points, guard Antone Byrd 16, and guard D.J. Dantzler 14.  Byrd and point guard Phil Negri shared game honors with four assists.  Jake Smith led UW-S with 18 points and five rebounds, with Dan Culy adding 17, including 4-7 threes, and Dustin Ritchie 10. 

UW-W is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Wisconsin

The Warhawks will play at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois Wednesday the 15th at 7:30.  The next home game will be December 18, with Marian University visiting Kachel Gym in Williams Center for a 5:00 tipoff.

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach, 262-472-1146.