The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team upped its mark to 9-1 with an 89-69 win over Willamette University at the National Invitational Tourney hosted by Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas Tuesday night.

Willamette led 23-22 on a three by senior forward Taylor Mounts with 8:33 left in the first half.  Whitewater then ripped off a 15-1 run, with four players contributing, to build a 37-24 lead with 4:38 on the clock.  The Warhawks then close the first half with a 7-0 burst to take a 47-28 lead into intermission.

Whitewater shot 61% (19-31) from the floor in the first half, Willamette 33% (10-30).  Senior center Chris Davis led three Warhawks in double figures with 16 points, followed by sophomore guard Cody Odegaard's 12 and 10 from junior forward Luke Knoble.  Mounts topped Willamette with 11.

Twice in the second half, 52-38 at 17:05, and 54-40 with 15:46 left, Willamette cut the lead to 14 points, but the Warhawks had the lead back up to as many as 22, 84-62 on two free throws by sophomore guard Alex Merg with 4:23 left.

Nothing much changed in the second half in the shooting percentages either, with Whitewater hitting 58% for the game and Willamette inching up to 46%.  The UW-W bench contributed 29 points to just 14 for the WU reserves.

Davis led both teams with 29 points, including 4-4 from the line and 3-6 from beyond the arc.  He was also the game's top rebounder with 13.  Odegaard finished with 14, Knoble 13, and sophomore guard Eric Bryson 11.  Knoble and junior forward Lucas Burns had four assists, and no turnovers, for UW-W.  Mounts wound up with 17 for Willamette, sharing the team lead with junior guard Terrell Malley.  Senior forward Ryan Meehan contributed 11 points.  Mounts led his squad with seven boards.

Willamette is 2-8.

UW-W, ranked sixteenth in the D3hoops.com poll, will take on #8 Whitworth College Wednesday at 4:00 (Central) in the National Invitational in San Antonio.

The Warhawks' next home appearance will be January 4, with Edgewood College visiting Kachel Gym in Williams Center for a 7:00 tipoff.

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