UW-Whitewater clinched a home game for the first round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which begins Tuesday, February 22, with a 79-63 win over UW-Superior in Kachel Gym of Williams Center Saturday afternoon. 

UW-W came in to Saturday's action tied with UW-La Crosse at 9-6 in the league.  UW-La Crosse hosts UW-Stevens Point later Saturday.  If La Crosse wins that game Whitewater will get the four seed in the tourney, and will host UW-Platteville Tuesday at 7:00 in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.  If La Crosse loses to Point, the Warhawks will earn the three seed and will host UW-Superior again Tuesday.

Senior guard Phil Negri gave UW-W a 10-7 lead with a three pointer at 15:18.  Negri's third three of the half put the Warhawks in front 14-9 at the 14:48 mark.  With UW-W in front 23-19 UW-S senior guard Dan Culy hit a three to cut the lead to one, 23-22.  Culy's basket began an 11-0 run that put the Yellowjackets in front 30-23 with 2:42 left.  Then the momentum changed and UW-W closed out the half on a 9-2 run to knot the score at 32-32 at intermission.

The game was still tied at 37-37 when a 6-0 spurt gave Whitewater the lead it never gave back.  A 12-4 streak midway through the second half put the Warhawks in front 68-51, their largest lead of the game, with 7:03 on the clock.  UW-S whittled the lead down to eight, 71-63 with 3:09 left, but a dunk by junior forward Alex Edmunds pushed the lead back to ten, where it stayed in double figures the rest of the way.

The Warhawks marched to the free throw line 18 times, making 17.  That gave UW-W an 11 point margin, as the Yellowjackets were just 6-9 from the line. 

UW-W junior center Chris Davis notched his twelfth double double of the season, leading both teams with 26 points and ten rebounds.  He also led both teams with three steals.  Negri added 15 points --- all of them coming on a 5-6 day from beyond the arc.  Sophomore guard Antone Byrd was also in double figures with 11 points, plus he tied for game honors with five assists.  UW-Superior was led by senior forward Jake Smith's 21 points and eight rebounds.  Smith hit 3-4 three point attempts, and was 8-14 overall from the field.  Senior center Greg Roeder and Culy chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively.  Junior guard Dustin Ritchie shared game honors with five assists.

UW-Whitewater finishes the regular season 17-8 overall and 10-6 in the WIAC.  UW-Superior winds up 14-11 and 6-10 in the league.