OSHKOSH, Wis.- UW-Oshkosh men's basketball defeated Hamline University (Minn.), 74-65, in their final game of the 2024 UW-Oshkosh BSN Winter Classic on Monday (Dec. 30). The Titans wrapped up nonconference play with a 9-2 record.
 
UW-Oshkosh shot 45.8 percent (22-of-48) from the field, 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from three, and 69.4 percent (25-of-36) from the charity stripe, leading the Pipers (6-6, 2-1 MIAC) from the field and arc and held a 46 to 32 rebounding edge. The Titans also registered 13 assists, five steals, and a pair of blocks.
 
Michael Metcalf-Grassman (So. • Shawano/Waukesha) scored 22 points on 7-of-13 from the field and 8-of-9 from the line. He also registered 15 rebounds (two offensive) for his sixth double-double of the season.
 
Jonah Rindfleisch (Sr. • Milwaukee) led Oshkosh with six assists while adding 12 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Joey LaChapell (Fr. • Appleton) shot 3-of-4 from the field, 2-of-3 from three, and 6-of-7 from the line for 14 points and Brandon Beck (Fr. • Rockton, Ill.) registered 11 points.
 
The Titans scored the first 11 points of the game. Rindfleisch hit a 3-pointer followed by three free throws by LaChapell when he was fouled on another 3-point attempt. Rindfleisch followed with a dunk in Oshkosh's next possession and LaChapell hit a quick three for the 11th point.
 
UW-Oshkosh extended its lead to 12 points on a 4-0 spurt shortly after. The teams hovered around 10 points apart for much of the rest of the half before a 5-0 run made the score 32-17 with 1:34 to go in the period. The Pipers notched a three with four seconds to go before halftime, cutting the deficit to 33-24.
 
Rindfleisch scored the first basket of the second half, tallying a layup 43 seconds into the period. Neither team scored more than four consecutive points until after the halfway mark of the evenly match half.
 
Hamline decreased the deficit from 14 points to nine by scoring five between 9:39 and 8:41. The Titans responded with six points, two of which came from Metcalf-Grassman and two from Nate Nazos (Fr. • Batavia, Ill.).
 
UW-Oshkosh held a lead of as few as four points late until Carter Thomas (Jr. • Neenah), Metcalf-Grassman, and Max Tutas (So. • Sheboygan) all converted a free throw attempt for the last three points of the game.
 
Metcalf-Grassman and Rindfleisch were both named to the All-Classic team at the conclusion of the game.
 
The Titans kick off league play at UW-Stout (4-6) on Saturday (Jan. 4) at 3 p.m.