EAU CLAIRE, Wis.- The UW-Oshkosh men's basketball squad travelled to Eau Claire on Wednesday night (Feb. 19) to take on conference rival, UW-Eau Claire. The Blugolds got the best of the Titans for the second time this season by a score of 62-49.
 
Oshkosh's (12-12, 3-10 WIAC) bench was big Wednesday night, as it scored 21 of the Titans' points compared to just three bench points for the Blugolds (16-8, 8-5 WIAC).
 
Joey LaChapell (Fr. • Appleton) led the way for the Titans as he scored 15 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. LaChapell also pulled down a season high six rebounds while recording two steals in his 31 minutes of action. Carter Thomas (Jr. • Neenah) also scored double-digits for the Titans as he had 10 points in 38 minutes.
 
Eau Claire started the ball game hot, producing an 11-5 run in the first six minutes of action.  The teams then traded buckets, each scoring six points, to put the score at 11-17 with seven minutes to play in the half. Oshkosh then went on a 6-2 run to get within two points with 3:30 to go. The Blugolds flipped the momentum and closed out the half with an 11-4 run to give them the 21-30 lead heading into the break.
 
Eau Claire kept that momentum starting the second half, going on an 8-3 run in the first three minutes. The Titans rallied with a 10-2 run to get within six of the Blugolds. Eau Claire then responded with an 8-1 run, helping it maintain the 48-35 lead with just under 10 minutes to go. Oshkosh went on an 8-6 run over the next four and a half minutes before the Blugolds finished the contest with a 10-8 run to best the Titans, 49-62.
 
Oshkosh is slated to return home to host UW-Stout (8-16, 4-9 WIAC) on Saturday night (Feb. 22) at 7 p.m. at Kolf Sports Center for the regular season finale and Senior Night. In these two teams' previous matchup, Stout took the win in Menomonie, 64-57.