EAU CLAIRE - After leading the first 18:53 of the second half, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team was saddled with a 53-47 setback as UW-Platteville scored the final 11 points of the game to capture a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference triumph at the W. L. Zorn Arena Saturday afternoon.

The game was close from start to finish with no more than six points separating the teams. There were six ties and two lead changes in the first 12 minutes before Jared Bardon (Jr.-DeForest) hit a three-pointer and a two-pointer to put the Blugolds up 20-15 at the 6:15 mark of the opening half.

The Blugolds maintained that lead until Kyle Tetschlag scored on a layup with 2:09 remaining to tie the game and Bob Richter nailed a trey with 1:07 remaining to give Platteville a 50-47 lead. Tetschlag added a free throw at the 27-second mark to give Platteville a four-point advantage.

Eau Claire's Zack Ryan (Jr.-Lake Elmo, MN/Tartan) missed two free throw attempts with 21 seconds remaining and the Blugolds were forced to foul. Tetschlag hit a pair of charity tosses with 11 seconds left to provide the final margin of difference.

The Pioneers were playing their fifth straight game without 6-10 Jeff Skemp, who was averaging 12.5 points per game before suffering a season-ending injury. Mark Gossens, a 6-6 senior, was playing just his second game since being sidelined with an ankle sprain. Playing 39 minutes on the tender ankle, Gossens hit just 3 of 14 from the field and managed just five rebounds. But he contributed three blocks and two assists in making his presence felt.

The loss overshadowed a stellar performance by 6-7 Blugold junior Dan Beyer (Waukesha/Catholic Memorial) who scored 16 points and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds. His effort helped the Blugolds maintain a 39-27 advantage on the boards.

Neither team was sharp from the field as Platteville hit just 40 percent and the Blugolds 36 percent. From behind the arc, Platteville connected on just 4 of 12 and the Blugolds 4 of 16.

Platteville kept the Blugolds off the free throw line by committing just nine fouls the entire game. Eau Claire was just 5 of 8 from the charity stripe while Platteville nailed 13 of 16 free throw attempts.

The Pioneers also played a disciplined game with just six turnovers compared to 12 by the Blugolds.

Platteville had good scoring balance with four players between nine and 13 points. Charlie Lohoff was high with 13 while Tetschlag added 11, Gossens 10 and Mike Jamerson nine.

Beyer's primary help came from Bardon who tallied 11.

The win was Platteville's second straight and left the Pioneers with a 9-5 season mark and 4-3 conference record. The Blugolds lost for a fifth straight time to slip to 7-8 overall and 1-6 in the WIAC.

Eau Claire-Platteville Box Score

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