Box Score

STEVENS POINT - UW-Platteville got 20 points from Jeff Skemp and as the fourth-ranked Pioneers defeated the fifth-ranked Pointers 55-52 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

The win gives the Pioneers (21-4, 13-3 WIAC) the No. 2 seed in the upcoming WIAC tournament and the other coveted first round bye. The Pointers, who secured their 25th conference title and the tournament's No. 1 seed on Wednesday, finish the regular season with a record of 21-4, 14-2 in the WIAC.

Five lead changes marked a back-and-forth first half where neither team was able to get much going early. Down the stretch of the first half, the Pointers began to pull away, building an 11-point lead, 26-15 with just over 3:22 remaining in the first half. A Bo Richter three-pointer sparked a 12-0 run by the Pioneers in the final three minutes, as UWP came back to take a one-point lead with :26 remaining. Not to be outdone, a three-pointer from Khalifa El-Amin (Milwaukee, Rufus King) as time expired gave the Pointers the halftime lead, 29-27.

In the second half, Platteville took the lead for good at the 16:56 mark as Charlie Lohoff connected on a free-throw to give the Pioneers the 33-32 lead. Down the stretch, the Pointers kept the Pioneers close, allowing no more than a five-point advantage for the visiting team, keeping the game within striking distance. But in the game's final minute, the Pioneers converted on their free-throw opportunities, going 5-for-6 from the charity stripe to secure the three-point victory.

Pete Rortvedt (Minocqua, Lakeland)led the way for the Pointers as the only player in double figures, pouring in 11 poitns and collecting three rebounds. Matt Moses (Fond du Lac, St. Mary Springs) added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds while Jerome Wotachek (Mishicot, Mishicot) added eight points.

The Pointers will now wait for Tuesday night's action to see who their opponent will be for Thursday night's game. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Bennett Court at Quandt Fieldhouse as the first part of a men's and women's doubleheader at Stevens Point.