The UW-Whitewater men’s basketball team traveled to the campus of Washington University in St. Louis for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division III tournament.
The Warhawks opened tournament play against Loras College in the round of 64. The Duhawks, a strong opponent from the American Rivers Conference, looked to challenge Whitewater early in the matchup.
A strong first half helped propel the Warhawks to a 50-31 lead at the break. Junior guard Collin Madson and senior forward Richie Warren led the way offensively, helping Whitewater control the pace and build a comfortable advantage.
With the lead in hand, head coach Jarod Wichser chose to go deeper into the rotation during the second half, giving 13 players minutes by the end of the game. The Duhawks were able to cut into the lead as the half went on, but the Warhawks ultimately held on for an 85-76 win to advance to the round of 32.
Madson led the way offensively with 20 points, marking his seventh game in his last eight scoring at least 20 points for the Warhawks.
Whitewater faced a tougher test in the round of 32 with host school Washington University in St. Louis. The Bears came into the matchup ranked as high as No. 14 in the Division III National Power Index, while Whitewater sat at No. 21.
The game quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle. Neither side was able to find a consistent rhythm early, and both teams traded possessions throughout the first half. The Warhawks held the lead for much of the middle portion of the half before the Bears made a late push to enter the break with a 40-31 lead.
Madson had difficulty finding open looks in the first half, finishing the period with just two points. Warren and senior guard Joey Berezowitz kept the Warhawks within reach by picking up the scoring load and keeping the offense moving.
(Chase Keller)
The second half followed a similar pattern. WashU remained ahead for most of the half, but the Warhawks continued to respond whenever the Bears attempted to stretch the lead.
Still, the Bears were able to make key plays down the stretch to maintain their lead and advance to the Sweet 16, ending UW-W’s season.
“I’m incredibly proud of our guys. I’m proud of how they played tonight and how they played all season long,” Wichser said. “I wish we could have a possession or two back, but that’s just how basketball goes.”
Madson pointed to the team’s resilience throughout the season and their belief that they could work their way back into the game.
“There have been games where we’ve been down 10 or 15 points at half and come back to win,” Madson said. “There was no doubt we thought we could come back and win.”
One of Whitewater’s main points of emphasis throughout the season was winning the rebounding battle. In this game, however, the Warhawks were unable to do so. WashU finished with a 37-27 advantage on the glass.
“They were killing us on the glass tonight,” Madson said.
Despite the loss, Warren put together one of his best stretches of the season during the tournament. Across the two contests, he combined for 37 points, including a career-high 22 points in the final game of the year.
“I was just trying to find good looks and get to my attacks,” Warren said. “Knowing when to attack, when to pass and trying to execute.”
Madson also reflected on the team’s season and the moments that stood out to him. One of his favorite memories came earlier in the year when senior guard Isaac Verges hit a game-winning shot against Hope College.
For Madson, moments like that captured what the team was about all season. The Warhawks consistently battled in close games and found ways to stay competitive.
Although Whitewater’s season came to an end in St. Louis, the team’s run to the NCAA tournament and its resilience throughout the season highlighted the group’s competitiveness and ability to respond in difficult moments.
