Skemp's 30 lift Pioneers into first
Jeff Skemp became the first UW-Platteville player to score 30 points in three years, as the 6-10 junior center led the Pioneers to a 79-73 victory at sixth-ranked UW-Whitewater Wednesday.
The Pioneers created a four-way tie halfway through the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference race, with UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point, all at 6-2. The Pioneers played all three of the other first-place clubs on the road, winnng at both Oshkosh and Whitewater and losing in the final seconds to UW-Stevens Point.
Skemp made 11-15 from the field and 8-8 from the line in just 28 minutes of play. He topped his previous high of 23 and became the first Pioneer to reach 30 since Brad Reitzner scored 31 in a victory over top-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Jan. 26, 2005.
Curt Hanson added 12 points and Josh Langenfeld 11 for the Pioneers, who improved to 12-4 overall. Miles McKay topped the Warhawks (13-3) with 19 points, while Kori Vernon had 15 and Josh King 12.
The Pioneers led 37-33 at the half and allowed the Warhawks the lead for only three minutes early in the second half. Hanson's three-point shot put UWP ahead for good at 49-47. UWW came within two points five times, but each time the Pioneers responded with a big field goal or free throws. The visitors knocked down 22 of 25 from the line, inlcuding 13-14 in the final 2:49.
Both teams shot extremely well, with the Pioneers connecting on 53 percent of their shots and the Warhawks 62 of theirs.
The Pioneers play host to UW-Stout Saturday at 5 p.m.
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