WHITEWATER – The No. 2 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team finished its regular season home schedule with a resounding victory Wednesday night, defeating UW-Oshkosh 69-47 in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
With the win, the Warhawks (21-3 overall, 14-1 WIAC) moved into a tie for first place in the conference with fifth-ranked UW-Stevens Point, which was idle Wednesday.
 
If both teams win Saturday, UW-Whitewater earns a share of the regular season title. The No. 1 seed in the WIAC Tournament, which begins next week, would then be determined by a coin flip after all other tiebreakers drew even.
 
UW-Whitewater's four seniors competing on Senior Night combined for 53 points, led by wing KJ Evans (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial), who registered his seventh double-double of the year with game highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Guards Quardell Young (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) and Cody Odegaard (Poynette, Wis./Poynette) posted 15 points apiece, while forward Steve Egan (Omro, Wis./Omro) tallied seven points and seven rebounds. Young also finished with six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
 
The Warhawks shot 49.2 percent from the floor, including a 63 percent clip in the second half, and held the Titans (13-11, 7-8) to just 29.8 percent from the field, a season low for a UW-Whitewater opponent.
 
The Warhawks found driving lanes and controlled the game inside, outscoring UW-Oshkosh 46-18 in the paint, including a 26-4 margin in the second half.
 
Neither team found its offensive rhythm in the first half. UW-Whitewater jumped out to an 18-7 lead through the first nine minutes, but hit a dry spell over the course of the second part of the period.
 
The Titans drew to within 24-20 by the 2:04 mark, but Young converted a 3-point play off a steal by sophomore Drew Bryson (Elkhorn, Wis./Elkhorn), and the Warhawks went into the locker room with a seven-point lead.
 
UW-Whitewater retook control in the second half, turning an eight-point lead with 13:33 on the clock into a 52-35 margin with 10:09 to play.
 
Odegaard, who scored 12 in the second half alone, converted back-to-back layups to give the Warhawks a 57-37 advantage with 7:51 left. UW-Oshkosh got no closer than 19 the rest of the way.
 
Egan, Evans, Odegaard and Young were recognized along with student assistant AJ Bocchini prior to their regular season home finale. Senior forward Terrence Bradley (Milwaukee, Wis./Nicolet) was unable to participate in the ceremony or play in the game due to illness.
 
UW-Whitewater closes the regular season Saturday at UW-Stout. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. in Menomonie, Wis.