Tough second half leads to Pioneer loss, 80-62

Written by: Jeremy Williamson, Sports Information Assistant

LA CROSSE, Wis. – A second half Blugold surge was too much for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team, as they lost to UW-Eau Claire, 80-62, at the Zorn Arena in Eau Claire on Wednesday night.

Jim Stocki led all scorers on the night with 24 as he became the 34^th player in Pioneer history to surpass 1,000 career points. He now has accumulated 1,016 career points and 324 on the season.

Stocki shot 4-6 from three point range and 7-12 from the field, while grabbing six rebounds.

It was definitely a tale of two halves as the Pioneers only trailed by four heading into the locker room at halftime, 31-27.

The Pioneers shot an honorable 41 percent in the second half going 12-for-29 from the field, but the Blugolds shot an excellent 15-for-23, good for a 65 percent shooting average.

UW-Platteville remained within two possessions of the Blugolds for the first five minutes of the half until Cory Vaassen had back-to-back buckets to tie the game up at 35.

The Pioneers took the first lead of the half at the 13:02 mark, following a three-pointer by Trevor Wittwer, 42-41.

With 12 minutes remaining in the game the Blugolds went on a 14-4 run to stretch the lead to 12, 59-47.

The Pioneers tried to rally back, but the closest they got was again 12, with about four minutes remaining, as the Blugolds continued to force Pioneer turnover and score efficiently.

The largest margin of the night, along with the final score of the game, was 18 as the Pioneers returned home with an 80-62 loss.

Vaassen and Stocki had six rebounds apiece and junior guard Boston Johnson led the team in assists with three.

The Pioneers return to Bo Ryan Court next Wednesday with an 8-6 conference record, to take on the Eagles of UW-La Crosse.