TIFFIN, OH – A second half comeback effort by the Calvin men's basketball team came up short as the Knights fell to Wisconsin-Oshkosh 75-67 Friday night in a first round game of the Ron Linhart Memorial Classic hosted by Heidelberg University.

Calvin fell behind 21-7 to open the contest but battled back to trail 35-27 at halftime. The Knights fell behind 42-29 in the opening minutes of the second half and later trailed 49-36 but the Knights rallied with a 27-8 scoring run to build a 63-57 advantage with 5:22 remaining. A turnover that led to layup and foul against the Knights moments later sparked the Titans (1-1) as they began to punch back. Wisconsin-Oshkosh regained the lead at 67-65 on a basket inside with 2:23 remaining. The Titans never trailed again, outscoring the Knights 8-2 down the stretch to seal the win.

Junior Owen Varnado (Muskegon, Mich./Western Michigan Christian HS) led Calvin in scoring with 15 points despite being limited to 17 minutes of action due to foul trouble. Graduate student Uchenna Egekeze (Huntley, Il./Huntley HS) had 12 points and junior Trevin Winkle (McBain, Mich./McBain Christian HS) 10 points.

The Knights shot 42.8 percent from the floor but just 33.3 percent (5 of 21) from three-point range. Calvin was 18 of 24 (.750) at the free throw line. Wisconsin-Oshkosh shot 45.0 percent from the field and held a 34-29 rebounding advantage on the Knights.  

Calvin (0-3) will face host Heidelberg (1-2) in the consolation final on Saturday at 5 p.m.