Pioneers Coast By Titans

UW-Platteville scored 17 unanswered points during the middle of its 86-48 men's basketball victory over UW-Oshkosh on Saturday (Dec. 15) in Platteville.

The Pioneers (8-3/3-1 WIAC) shot 56 percent for the game (33-59), including 12-of-23 accuracy (52 percent) on three-pointers. Chas Cross led the balanced scoring attack with 15 points, while Jake Manning tallied 14, Trevor Wittwer 12 and Jim Stocki 10.

For the final five minutes of the first half, the Titans (3-5/1-2 WIAC) couldn't score. UW-Oshkosh finished with 30 percent shooting (15-50), with 5-for-15 success behind the arc (33 percent). Jade Royston (Jr. • Wisconsin Dells) paced the squad with 12 points.

Stocki nailed a deep jumper in the game's first minute, and UW-Platteville would never trail. After two baskets from Manning, Coop Lewis hit a three-pointer to make it 12-3 after six minutes.

UW-Oshkosh pulled to within 22-16 after marking seven straight points, including four Royston free throws.

The Pioneers then got back-to-back triples from Lewis and Wittwer to lead, 31-19. UW-Platteville tallied the last 12 points of the opening half and the first five points of the second stanza to pull away.

Cross converted two lay-ups early in the final period, and then he added a dunk, jumper and three-pointer to make it 64-33 with nine minutes remaining.

UW-Platteville put the contest out of reach with an 11-1 run that featured seven points at the foul line. The Pioneers went 8-for-11 at the stripe (73 percent), as the Titans sank 13-of-20 attempts (65 percent).

Totaling 21 assists as a team, UW-Platteville received six from both Rob Stallion and Eric Gerber. The Pioneers held a 40-24 edge in rebounds thanks to nine from Cross.

Alex Olson (Fr. • Brookfield) booked eight points for the Titans, who used five boards from Andre Wallace (Fr. • Sun Prairie) and three assists by Sam Mageland (Sr. • Appleton).

UW-Oshkosh travels to Las Vegas (Nev.) for games on Thursday and Friday (Dec. 20-21).