Men's Baskeball Upsets No. 5 Pointers, 54-46

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville upset fifth-ranked UW-Stevens Point, 54-46, on Wednesday night in the Williams Fieldhouse on Bo Ryan Court.

The Pioneers  (15-6, 8-4 WIAC) gave the Pointers (18-6, 11-1 WIAC) their first conference loss of the season and snapped UWSP's eight game winning streak. UW-Stevens Point stayed with the Pioneers by nailing seven of their 15 field goals from beyond the arc. UW-Platteville topped the Pointers by dominating the glass by out rebounding UWSP 45-24 and scored nearly every point either from the free throw line (26-32) or in the paint (24 points).

Junior Chas Cross earned his fourth double-double of the season by recording a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Winnebago, Ill. native, went 10-12 from the charity stripe and grabbed five offensive and six defensive boards.  Sophomore Jim Stocki added 11 points, while his classmate Jake Manning netted 10 points. UW-Stevens Point only had two players score in double figures with Trevor Hass scoring a team 12 points, and followed by Joe Ritchay with 10.

UW-Platteville jumped out a 8-0 lead and never allowed the Pointers to get on top. A layup by Stocki gave the Pioneers their largest lead of the half, 10-3, at the 12:19 mark. UWSP battled back and came within one after a Hass three-pointer, 14-13, with just under three minutes left in the half. UW-Platteville held the Pointers scoreless in the final three-minute, taking a 17-13 lead into halftime.

The Pioneers used a nine-minute 19-5 run to start the second-half taking their largest lead of the game, 35-20. UW-Stevens Point kept the pressure on the Pioneers and brought it to a two possession game, 44-38, with 2:21 left to play. The Pioneers sealed the 54-46 victory by making 8-10 free throws in the final two minutes.

UW-Platteville travels to Menomonie, Wis. on Saturday to square off with UW-Stout. Tip is set for 4 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse.