Box Score

PLATTEVILLE – The fifth-ranked UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team saw a chance at a share of the regular season conference championship slip away as it fell to No. 23 UW-Platteville 84-65 on Bo Ryan Court.

The Pointers finish the regular season with a 20-5 overall record and a 12-4 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) record. The Pointers will fall to the third seed in the conference tournament as the Pioneers own the tiebreaker. The Pioneers finish with a 19-6 overall record and a 12-4 WIAC record.

The Pointers took an early 10-6 lead when Pete Rortvedt (Minocqua/Lakeland) (Jr.-Minocqua/Lakeland) hit a three-pointer three minutes into the game. A little later in the half, the Pioneers went on an 11-0 run to take a 26-16 lead with seven minutes remaining in the half. The Pioneers built their lead to 17 with three minutes left and went into halftime with a 40-25 lead.

The Pointers shot 42 % in the first half, while the Pioneers shot 65 %. Platteville had a 20-14 scoring edge in the paint, including 16 points from center Jeff Skemp. Skemp and Jeff Hanson had 30 of Platteville's 40 points.

Steve Hicklin (Sussex/Hamilton) (Sr.-Sussex/Hamilton) hit back-to-back three-pointers to begin the second half to cut the Pioneer lead to 40-31. The margin remained around 10 until the Pointers got the lead down to six twice on a couple of three-pointers with 13 minutes left in the game.

However, Platteville went on a 12-0 run to take a 71-52 lead with 6:42 left. The Pioneers went on to win going away by a score of 84-65.

Stevens Point shot 49 % from the field for the game, while Platteville shot 66 % from the field. The Pioneers were 11-for-19 from beyond the arc.

Pete Rortvedt (Minocqua/Lakeland) led the Pointers with 20 points. Bryan Beamish (Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) added 12 points and had a team-high seven assists. Steve Hicklin (Sussex/Hamilton) had 11 points, nine of which in the second half. Scott Hoelzel (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) (So.-Kaukauna) had 10 points and led the Pointers with six rebounds. Jeff Skemp had 22 points to lead Platteville.

The Pointers will host UW-La Crosse Monday night at Quandt Fieldhouse in the WIAC Tournament Quarterfinals. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.