Oshkosh, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team drop its first game of the season, 79-63 at defending NCAA Division III champion UW-Oshkosh Saturday night in Kolf Sports Center in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener for both teams. The Eagles, ranked 15th on the D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll, fall to 10-1 overall while the Titans, receiving votes on the national poll, improve to 7-5 overall.

UWL's 10-0 record to start the season was its best start in 56 seasons.  UWL won its first 12 games to begin the 1964-65 season.

UW-Oshkosh scored on its opening possession on a jumper by Jack Flynn and would never trail in the contest.  The Eagles got on the scoreboard with a layup made from Wyatt Cook with 16:43 remaining in the first half to make it 6-2.  UW-Oshkosh went on a 9-5 run to take a 15-9 lead with 13:37 left in the half on a Levi Borchert layup.

UWL closed the gap to 15-13 with 10:07 remaining on a Seth Anderson jumper and later trailed, 18-16 with 8:36 left on Henry Noone's three-point field goal.  UW-Oshkosh used a 22-4 run to take a 40-20 advantage with 2:23 remaining. The Titans took their largest lead of the game, 42-21, with 2:06 left in the first half on a Flynn layup, but the Eagles ended the half with an 11-2 run to cut the halftime deficit to 44-32. 

UW-Oshkosh scored the first three points of the second half on David Vlotho's three-point play for a 47-32 lead. Trailing 49-34, UWL went on a 13-4 run to cut it to 53-47 with 13:50 left on Luke Norcia's layup. The Titans responded after a timeout with eight straight points to lead 61-47. The Eagles could get no closer than 12 points the rest of the game.

UWL shot 38.7% from the field, including 18.2% (four-of-22) from three-point range, and 78.6% (11-of-14) at the line. Terek Nesheim led the Eagles with 15 points while Seth Anderson had 13. Ethan Anderson finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals. Norcia led the Eagles with seven rebounds and three assists.  

UW-Oshkosh shot 50.0% from the field, including 37.5% (six-of-16) from three-point range, and 53.8% (seven-of-13) at the line. Will Mahoney led the Titans with 21 points and five assists while Flynn added 20 points. Eddie Muench and Borchert each finished with 12 points. Adam Fravert led UW-Oshkosh with eight rebounds.  

UWL returns to action Wednesday, January 8 hosting UW-River Falls at 7 p.m.