Men's Basketball falls to No. 1 UW-Stevens Point in WIAC Semifinals

STEVENS POINT, Wis. -- A scoring drought midway through the second half proved to be too much for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team, as the top ranked UW-Stevens Point setback the Pioneers, 66-47, in the semifinals of the WIAC Tournament on Friday at Bennett Court.

Seniors Chas Cross and Eric "Skip" Gerber and junior Jim Stocki combined for 45 points. Gerber led the trio with 17 points, followed by Cross with 15 points and seven rebounds. Stocki netted 13 points and recorded two assists.

Pointers' Tyler Tillema and Clayton Heuer each scored 20 points.

The Pioneers trailed by six before using a 9-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 21-18 with just under nine minutes till halftime. The Pointers answered with a 12-2 run and took a 36-28 lead into the locker room.

The Pioneers managed cut the deficit to two, 42-40, at 12:36 mark of the second half. UWSP halted the Pioneers momentum and went on a to score 15 unanswered points, 57-50. The Pioneers weren't able to make a run in the final six minutes, as UWSP made its free throws down the stretch to seal the 66-47 victory.

Cross ends his great career as the school's all-time blocked shots leader (135), and with the best career field goal percentage (61.2 percent). The Winnebago, Ill. native finished his four years with 1,336 points for the 12th most points scored in school history.

Gerber amassed 795 points, 331 assists and 143 steals during his time in the Orange and Blue.

The Pioneers end the season 16-11 for their 28th consecutive season with 10 or more wins.