Box Score OSHKOSH, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) - UW-River Falls (15-10, 9-5 WIAC) fell in the team's season finale on the road to UW-Oshkosh (16-9, 9-5 WIAC) 65-62 which puts the Falcons tied for second place in the WIAC final standings. Due to the WIAC tiebreaker, the Falcons will be seeded fourth in the tournament.
The fourth seeded Falcons will host fifth seeded UW-Whitewater on Wednesday February 24 at 7 p.m. at Karges.
In the first half, the Falcons took control early with a 9-3 run to start the game with five points from senior
Jon Christensen. UWRF remained in the lead and with 13:51 to go in the first half, and the score 16-10, the Falcons took a 7-0 run and took a commanding 23-10 lead with 11:55 to go in the half with five more points coming from Christensen.
UW-Oshkosh did not shy away responding with an 8-0 run and came back within five points of the Falcons with 10:15 to go in the half. UWRF and UW-Oshkosh both were even the remainder of the way with each team scoring 10 more points to end the half with a score 33-28 with UWRF in the lead. Christensen scored 12 points and had nine rebounds in the half and the Falcons were pacing the rebounds as well leading 22-13 with five rebounds from
Brennan Witt.
In the second half, the Titans opened up with a three pointer to cut the lead to just two points.
CJ Lewis responded with a three pointer of his own. After a few exchanges, the Titans connected on another three point shot from senior Alex Olson and that cut the lead to 37-36 with just 15:53 to go in the game. Lewis once more answered with a three pointer and kept the Titans at bay.
Lewis kept his high level of play in the second half with a layup with 14:00 to go in the half that put the Falcons up 45-40. The Titans, fighting for a first round bye in the WIAC tournament, roared back with an 11-0 run and led 51-45 with 11:04 to go in the game.
The Falcons clawed back, but did not lead for the remainder of the game. The Falcons had two chances late in the game, but could not connect on two attempts from the three point line to send the game into overtime and the Falcons fell 65-62.
Leading the scoring effort for the Falcons was Christensen with 15 points and he added 12 rebounds on the night. Lewis finished with 14 points on 6-7 shooting.
Grant Erickson scored 12 on the night and had three rebounds.
Jack Herum scored 10 on the night for the Falcons and added four rebounds.
From the floor, UW-River Falls was 22-55 (40 percent) and struggled in the second half to shoot. The Falcons won the rebound battle 40-31 on the night, but 12 turnovers that led to 20 Titan points allowed the Titans to come back in the second half.
The Falcons start postseason play when they host UW-Whitewater on February 24 at 7 p.m. at Karges. The Falcons won both contests against the Warhawks this season. If victorious, the Falcons will play on February 26 against either WIAC regular season conference champions UW-La Crosse or against UW-Eau Claire on the road a
