From Tribune
staff reports

The UW-La Crosse men's basketball team almost pulled off the improbable Saturday afternoon. But UW-Oshkosh held on for a 68-65 Wisconsin State University Conference victory before 686 spectators at the Kolf Sports Center.

The Titans survived when a 3-point shot by UW-L's Ryan Ecklund from the top of the key failed at the buzzer.

``(We) had a look at the end,'' UW-L coach Charlie Gross said. ``(Ecklund) said he felt it was good.''

UW-Oshkosh (7-4 WSUC, 15-4 overall) won its 26th home game in 27 games.

The Eagles, meanwhile, dropped to 2-9 in league play and 10-9 overall.

``It's never good when you lose,'' Gross said. ``There's no moral victories. We take the floor to win ... It doesn't boil down to the last shot. It's making plays earlier in the game.''

Those plays included three key offensive rebounds the Titans came up with late in the game, Gross said.

UW-L guard Chuck Simpson led all scorers with 28 points, which included five 3-point baskets. Ecklund added 10 points.

UW-Oshkosh, entering the game leading NCAA Division III in 3-point accuracy at 46.6 percent, made 11 of 19 3-point shots Saturday. Overall, the Titans shot 50 percent from the floor.

Brett Davis was 3-for-4 from 3-point range and led UW-Oshkosh with 16 points. Aaron Harding, who played at Tomah High School, added 15 points. Dennis Ruedinger scored 12 points on four 3-point baskets.

The Eagles rallied from a 10-point deficit midway through the second half.

UW-L forward Jay Daly hit a jumper with 16 seconds left to cut the Titans' lead to three points. Harding then missed two free throws with 11 seconds remaining, but the Eagles couldn't sink the 3-point shot to force overtime.

þ The UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team (9-2 WWIAC, 18-2 overall) jumped to a 40-22 halftime lead and cruised past UW-La Crosse 75-54 Saturday night at UW-L's Mitchell Hall.

The Eagles' defeat was marred by another potentially serious injury to a key player.

After losing Jennifer Een to a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament earlier in the week, forward Jessica Edwards suffered a serious ankle injury with about 12 minutes left in Saturday's game. The extent of Edwards' injury was being determined late Saturday, UW-L coach Cheryl Kennedy said.

Steph Viner led the Eagles (4-7, 8-12) with 13 points, while Edwards added 12.

``Een is the player who has the heart on this team,'' Kennedy said. ``Jessica is our guts. She is our strength. This team is very close, and when a player goes down, you can see the others watching and worrying.''

Holly Spoo led the Titans with 16 points. Former Central High School standout Rachel Lachecki had four points.

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