Men's Basketball Falls to UW-Whitewater in WIAC Championship

WHITEWATER, Wis. – In a tale of two halves, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team fell to UW-Whitewater, 66-55, in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Tournament Championship Game on Saturday night in Kachel Gym. 

In the first half, the Pioneers shot 40 percent (10-25) from the floor and 33 percent (3-9) from beyond the arc; and only made one three-pointer on ten attempts in the second half. UW-Platteville held the Warhawks to 30.8 percent in the first half, but UWW found its rhythm in the second half making 5-11 from three-pointers and shot 52.2 percent (12-23) from the floor. 

Sophomore Jim Stocki led the Pioneers with 13 points followed by junior Eric Gerber with 10. Junior Chas Cross and sophomore Jake Manning each scored nine and Cross grabbed 13 of the Pioneers 23 defensive rebounds. 

Darnell Harris, Eric Bryson and Patrick Souter combined for 47 of Warhawks 66 points. Harris led all scorers with 20 points followed by Bryson's five three-pointers for 17 points. Souter rounded out UWW's top scorers with 10 points. 

Cross scored five of the Pioneers first 10 points as UW-Platteville took a 10-4 with 13:49 left in the first-half. The Pioneers took their largest lead of the game ofo nine points, 22-13, with just under five minutes to halftime. A jumper by Souter in the final seconds of the half cut UWW's deficit to five, 26-21, going into intermission. 

The Warhawks came out of halftime firing and couldn't miss, going on a 17-4 to start the half, 40-30. The Pioneers battled back and brought it back to a five-point game, 43-38, with 7:19 left to play. UW-Platteville couldn't find enough stops in the end and wouldn't get any closer in the final seven minutes. 

The Pioneers end their season with a 19-9 record and made WIAC history by becoming the first five-seed to play in the tournament finals.