Augustana Tops Men's Basketball

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball was handed its first loss of season by Augustana, 69-57, Tuesday night at the Carver PE Center.

The Pioneers' sophomore Jake Manning scored a team-high 13 points with six rebounds, while junior Chas Cross added 10 points and six boards. Guards Eric Gerber and Trevor Wittwer recorded nine points and two assists apiece.

The Vikings' Kevin Hoepfner netted a game-high 19 points with five rebounds. Ben Ryan grabbed a game-high seven rebounds with 12 points, and Brandon Thompson scored 11 points with five rebounds.

The Pioneers took a 6-4 lead at the 16:49 mark before UW-Platteville went on a seven-minute scoring drought as the Vikings took advantage and grabbed 15-6 lead. Wittwer ended the Pioneers' dry spell making a big three-pointer to make it a 15-9 game. Gerber drained a much needed three-pointer at the 6:23 mark to get the Pioneers with in four, 21-17. Augustana ended the first-half on an 18-6 run taking a 39-23 lead at the break.

The Vikings kept the pressure on the Pioneers and took their largest lead of the game, 51-30, with 10:40 left in the game. UW-Platteville battled back and went on a 17-6 run to cut its deficit to 10 points just under four minutes to play. Augustana withheld the Pioneers final push to earn the 69-57 victory. The Pioneers held the Vikings to 23 percent shooting in the second-half but converted 18-23 from the free throw line to secure the win.

The Pioneers begin conference play on Saturday with a trip to UW-River Falls. Tip is set for 3 p.m. at the Karges Center.