Menomonie, Wis. — UW-Stout went punch-for-punch with nationally respected Wisconsin-Whitewater, a team receiving votes in the national poll, before a last-second, off-balance three lifted the Warhawks to a 78–77 win Saturday afternoon at Johnson Fieldhouse.
The Blue Devils were sharp early, highlighted by a standout possession just under the 16-minute mark of the first half. Stout grabbed two offensive rebounds on the same trip, extending the possession before Domanyck Schwarzenberger capped it with a three to energize the home crowd. Moments later, Schwarzenberger struck again, threading a pass to Nolan Stauffacher for a powerful dunk just before the 10-minute mark.
Stout's ball movement continued to shine when Gavin Johnson knocked down a corner three off another Schwarzenberger assist, pushing the Blue Devils in front 30–21. Whitewater responded with a late surge to take a 42–41 lead into halftime.
The Warhawks carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a decisive 15–2 run to build a 57–43 advantage. UW-Stout answered, stringing together stops and timely baskets to stay within striking distance.
Down 69–61 late, Stout mounted a furious comeback. The Blue Devils closed the gap with a 13–2 run, punctuated by a clutch three from Wesley Mboga, who finished with a career-high 19 points, cutting the deficit to 69–68 with 4:25 remaining. AJ Uttech followed with a leaning three at the 2:25 mark to tie the game at 71.
On the next sequence, Stout's defense forced a tough Whitewater miss, and Collin Vick came up with a massive offensive rebound off a missed free throw. Vick was fouled immediately and calmly knocked down one at the line to give the Blue Devils a 72–71 lead with 1:37 remaining.
Stout built on that momentum moments later. After another defensive stand, Schwarzenberger pushed the ball in transition, weaving through traffic and finishing at the rim to put Stout ahead 74–71 with just over a minute to play.
Whitewater responded at the free-throw line, knocking down two shots with 37 seconds left to trim the margin to 74–73. Stout answered by attacking the paint, as Uttech drew contact and made two free throws to extend the lead back to 76–73 with 28 seconds remaining.
Whitewater converted a quick basket in the lane with 12 seconds left to pull within 76–75, setting up a tense final possession. After Stout split a pair at the line in the closing seconds to make it 77–75, Whitewater pushed the ball up the floor one last time. As time expired, the Warhawks launched a contested, off-balance three that banked off the backboard, danced around the rim, and dropped, sealing the heartbreaking one-point decision.
By the Numbers
-
Wesley Mboga: Career-high 19 points, 6 rebounds, hit the clutch three during Stout's late run
-
Domanyck Schwarzenberger: 18 points, transition layup that gave Stout the late lead
-
AJ Uttech: 18 points off the bench, game-tying three and late free throws
-
Collin Vick: 11 rebounds, 5 assists, critical offensive board and go-ahead free throw
-
Bench points: Stout 29
-
Lead changes: 4
-
Ties: 4
Up Next
UW-Stout hits the road Wednesday, traveling to UW–La Crosse for a 7 p.m. tipoff as WIAC play continues.
