UW-Whitewater overcame a frigid first half to defeat Occidental College 63-60 in Rush Gymnasium in Los Angeles, California Monday night.

UW-W couldn't have been any colder if the game was in Anchorage.  Despite that, Whitewater led by as many as six in the first half, 12-6 on a DJ Dantzler three at 14:47 and 17-11when Cody Odegaard connected from long range at the 12:00 mark.  Occidental tied the game at 17-17 on a three by freshman forward Kris Montoya.  The teams traded the lead for the next couple of minutes. but without a thaw the Tigers eventually built five point leads at 30-25 on a Jack Hanley jumper and 32-27 with 1:02 left in the half.  Occidental went in to the lockerroom with a 34-30 lead. 

Whitewater shot just 27% in the half, and no better at the line, making only 3-7.  Occidental shot 62%, but the Warhawks hung in with a 25-15 advantage on the backboards. 

The Warhawks shook off the first half and burst out of the gates in the second half with a 13-0 run to build a 43-34 lead.  Back to back lay-ins by sophomore guard Antone Byrd made it 47-36 at 9:53, and the Warhawks inched the lead up to 13, 56-43 with 4:54 left and 58-45 at 2:57.  The Tigers weren't done, using a 13-4 surge to pull within 62-58 on a Hanley layup with 0:14 left.  Occidental had to foul to stop the clock, and time ran out with the final 63-60.

Although the final percentage, 36%, may not look great for UW-W the second half was a definite improvement.  And the Warhawk defense brought Occidental down from 62% af halftime to 47% for the game.

Davis was the game's leading scorer again, netting 28 along with a team high 11 rebounds, his sixth double double of the season.  Byrd was the only other Warhawk in double figures with 14.  Dantzler led Whitewater with six assists and three steals.  Hanley led the Tigers with 21 points, with sophomore forward Deshun McCoy contributing 19.  Junior foward Jake Copithorne took game rebounding honors with 12, and he led Occidental with five assists.

UW-W improved to 9-4 with its fifth consecutive win.  The Warhawks will host UW-River Falls at 4:00 Saturday in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.

Occidental is 6-5, including losses to two Division I teams.

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach 262-473-1146