Men's Basketball Falls at No. 16 UW-Whitewater

WHITEWATER, Wis. - Despite a 20-point effort from junior center Chas Cross, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team fell at 16^th-ranked UW-Whitewater, 64-50, on Wednesday night in Kachel Gym. 

Cross went 6-6 from the free throw line helping him record his seventh 20 or more point game of the season. The Winnebago, Ill. native, finished his night with a team-high eight rebounds. Senior Rob Stallion and junior Eric Gerber each added 10 points and Gerber dished out three assists without having a turnover. 

Quardell Young led the Warhawks with 18 points and tallied four rebounds and four assists. Darnell Harris recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Eric Bryson added 12 points and seven boards as Luke Knoble rounded out the UWW's leading scorers with 10 points. 

The Pioneers had a five-point lead, 7-2, before the Warhawks went on a 11-minute 24-4 run taking a 26-11 lead with just under six minutes left in the first-half. UWW shot just over 55% (16-29) and took a 36-20 advantage into halftime. UW-Platteville struggled shooting going 7-29 (24.1%) from the floor and 2-10 (20%) from beyond the arc. 

The Pioneers knew they couldn't get out from their 16-point deficit in just a few possessions, and managed to chip away at the Warhawk's lead; making it a seven-point game, 48-41, off a Gerber jumper with just over eight minutes left to play. UWW pushed its lead back to double figures, but UW-Platteville brought the game back to a two-possession contest, 56-50, with just under three minutes to play.  The Warhawks halted UW-Platteville's come back and held the Pioneers scoreless in the final 2:53, taking a 64-50 victory. 

UW-Platteville welcomes UW-La Crosse on Saturday and will honor two seniors on Senior Day. Tip is set for 3 p.m. against the Eagles on Bo Ryan Court.