Sean Wise paced the Titans with 5 rebounds and 4 steals

Pioneers Drop Titans With Second-Half Surge

UW-Platteville

(13-6 (6-4 WIAC))

UW-Oshkosh

(6-12 (1-8 WIAC))

Final

UW-Platteville (13-6 (6-4 WIAC))

UW-Oshkosh (6-12 (1-8 WIAC))

Jim Stocki posted 19 points and four steals to guide UW-Platteville to a 67-55 victory over UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday (Jan. 23) in Kolf Sports Center.

Stocki finished with 5-of-7 shooting beyond the arc, including a pair of triples that held off UW-Oshkosh's second-half comeback. The Pioneers (13-6/6-4 WIAC) opened the final period with a 10-2 run and led for the last 17 minutes.

The Titans (6-12/1-8 WIAC) dominated the first three minutes of play. Jade Royston (Jr. • Wisconsin Dells) counted four points before Dylan Wurtz (Jr. • Kimberly) made a driving finger roll for a 9-0 lead.

Scoring 11 straight points, UW-Platteville responded with two three-pointers from Chas Cross. A lay-in by Jake Manning at the 12:54 mark made it a 13-13 ballgame.

Cory Nickel (Jr. • Waupun) began to heat up from long range, knocking down three triples in the first half. His connection put UW-Oshkosh ahead, 29-21, with 4:04 on the clock. The Titans took a 31-29 advantage to halftime.

The momentum swung when Jake Manning scored four points in four seconds right after intermission. He got fouled on a lay-up and then missed the free throw. However, Manning grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back for the Pioneers' 33-31 lead.

Stocki drained two deep jumpers midway through the half to make it a 51-42 margin. Nickel canned a three-ball to pull within 57-52, but Marcus Jackson swished a triple of his own seconds later to seal the game with 3:08 remaining.

Both Nickel and Royston marked 15 points, while Sean Wise (Sr. • Wautoma) tallied eight points, five rebounds and four steals.

The Titans turned the ball over 19 times, while the Pioneers counted 14 giveaways. UW-Platteville also held a 32-26 edge in rebounds.

UW-Oshkosh shot a solid 44 percent from both the field (21-48) and three-point range (7-16). The Titans converted 6-of-8 free throws (75 percent), all in the first half.

Also shooting 44 percent (24-54), UW-Platteville succeeded on 9-of-19 triples (47 percent) and 10-of-13 foul shots (77 percent). Cross totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while Eric Gerber dished out five assists.

The Titans begin a home doubleheader against UW-La Crosse on Saturday (Jan. 26).