Pioneers gut out road win
February 2, 2005
By Paul Erickson, UWP Sports Information
Wednesday night's men's basketball game at Mitchell Hall had all the makings of what the analysts like to call a "trap" game.
UW-Platteville was playing on the road for the first time since Jan. 8 after five straight home games, including an emotional 73-58 win over top-ranked UW-Stevens Point before more than 1,700 in Williams Fieldhouse in their last game. The Pioneers faced UW-La Crosse, a pesky young club who has earned league-wide respect for playing every team to the limit, including the last two games in overtime. Add the unusual 5:45 p.m. start time and a sparse gathering, and the trap was set.
The Pioneers needed all six feet and 10 inches of freshman center Jeff Skemp to pull them out of that trap.
Skemp scored a layin with seven seconds remaining (pictured above), lifting UW-Platteville to a tough 52-50 win.
"We just ran our offense, and the guys gave me a great look," Skemp said.
The Eagles' Marcus Conigliaro missed a runner in the lane at the buzzer, as the Pioneers held on for their seventh straight win.
Skemp scored the game's final four points and had two big defensive stops in the last minute.
The freshman center put back a rebound for a basket with 57 seconds left, tying the score at 50-50. He then blocked a shot and altered another Eagle shot with 26 seconds remaining. The Pioneers called a timeout with 17 seconds remaining to run the final play.
"At the timeout, coach set up a play for Brad (Reitzner)," Skemp said. "He was supposed to fake a screen and get the ball to Mark (Gossens). I knew my guy was going to help, and he went off on Mark. I was waving my arms,and he got my the ball. I just had to finish."
Skemp led all scorers with a career-high 17 points, while Mark Gossens added 16 and Brad Reitzner 13. Coach Paul Combs's club improved to 14-5 overall and 9-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Billy Kegler and Joe Werner each had 11, and Chris Ask 10 for UW-La Crosse (5-15, 2-9).
"Stevens Point had a close one here (winning 63-62 in overtime Jan. 22), and we knew that we had to execute the game plan to come out on top," Skemp said.
The 21st-ranked Pioneers pulled back into a tie with idle UW-Stevens Point atop the league standings. The Pioneers face another test Saturday when they make the long trek to UW-Superior to play the Yellowjackets at 3:30 p.m.
"We have to take care of business on the road and then make it tough for people to come into Williams Fieldhouse," Skemp said.
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