MENOMONIE, Wis. – On a day set aside to honor seniors Aidan Shore, Cade LaFavor, and Carson Leuzinger, UW-Stout battled toe-to-toe with WIAC contender UW-Oshkosh before the Titans converted a baseline inbounds play at the buzzer to escape Johnson Fieldhouse with a 68-67 win Saturday afternoon.
Stout (8-15, 4-8 WIAC) led by 12 at halftime and withstood multiple second-half pushes from Oshkosh (17-6, 8-4 WIAC), who entered the game receiving votes in the national top 25. The Titans' frantic pace — full-court pressure and wholesale line changes — created a game of runs throughout, but the Blue Devils repeatedly answered.
After falling behind early, Stout grabbed its first lead at 14-13 when AJ Uttech jumped a passing lane for a steal and finished a tough transition layup through contact. That play ignited the Blue Devils and set the tone against Oshkosh's pressure.
The first half featured 10 lead changes, but Stout began to seize control late. Uttech knocked down a deep three from the wing, Shore converted inside, and Collin Vick controlled the glass to limit second chances. With under a minute remaining, Wesley Mboga drilled a corner three in transition — assisted by Vick — to cap a 12-point surge and send Stout into halftime with a 39-27 lead.
Oshkosh opened the second half attacking the paint and pushing tempo. The Titans slowly chipped away, turning turnovers into points and cutting the deficit to three midway through the period.
With momentum shifting and 4:02 remaining, Vick halted the run with a poised turnaround jumper in the post to steady the Blue Devils and keep the lead intact. On the defensive end, Nolan Stauffacher delivered one of the game's biggest plays, rejecting a dunk attempt with 2:22 left to preserve a narrow advantage.
The final minute was chaotic. After Stout took a one-point lead, Oshkosh went to the line with 1.4 seconds remaining but missed both free throws. Vick secured the rebound and appeared to be tied up and fouled, but officials ruled a jump ball, awarding possession to Oshkosh on the alternating arrow.
With one final chance, the Titans executed cleanly from the baseline, slipping a pass to the rim for a layup at the buzzer to steal the 68-67 victory.
Uttech led Stout with 22 points, attacking both in transition and in the half court. Gavin Johnson added 10 points off the bench, while Shore finished with 10 on his senior day. Vick anchored the interior with eight points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
By The Numbers
-
39-27 – Stout's halftime advantage after closing the first half on a decisive run.
-
22 – Points from AJ Uttech, who also had five steals and repeatedly broke the press.
-
11 – Rebounds from Collin Vick, including key late defensive boards.
-
13 – Stout steals, forcing 16 Oshkosh turnovers and generating 16 points off turnovers.
-
37-30 – Bench scoring edge for the Blue Devils.
-
33.8% – Stout's overall shooting percentage; the Titans shot 46.7% in the second half to fuel their comeback.
-
1 – Final margin, decided on a baseline inbounds play at the buzzer.
Up Next
The Blue Devils will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they travel to River Falls for a 7 p.m. WIAC matchup.
