PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - Despite a surge in the second half, the UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team fell 74-67 to UW-Platteville at Bo Ryan Court tonight.

The Blugolds (8-4, 2-3 WIAC) took the initial lead, going up by four points after holding the Pioneers (9-4, 3-1 WIAC) scoreless for the first two minutes. The Blugolds then built to a six-point lead. The two teams kept it close for a while after that and Platteville would not take the lead for the rest of the half until the 11-minute mark. The Pioneers outscored the Blugolds 26-11 over the final 11 minutes of the half to take a 15-point lead into halftime.

Eau Claire would not go away quietly and gave a good effort down the stretch to tie the game back up. With less than seven minutes remaining in the game, the Blugolds tied the game up for the third time after an 11-0 run. The Pioneers quickly took the lead back, however, and went back up by as much as nine with 45 seconds left before finishing with the seven-point win.

The Blugolds won the turnover margin, committing just eight to Platteville's season-high 20. Eau Claire scored 22 points off turnovers while Platteville had 11.

The Pioneers edged the Blugolds in rebounding 41-38 and shooting, 46 percent (23-for-50) to 38.6 percent (27-for-70). The Blugolds could not get the outside game going as they hit just two three-pointers in 25 attempts (8 percent) while Platteville was 9-for-17 (52.9 percent).

Amadou Fofana (Jr.-Appleton, Wis./West) led the Blugolds as he tied for a career-high with 23 points. Josh Prince (So.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chi-Hi) was also in double-digits with 11 points.

Geoff Probst (Sr.-Moose Lake, Minn.) had eight rebounds to lead the Blugolds and Colin Boone (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) finished with game-highs with six assists and three steals.

This Saturday the Blugolds will be back at Zorn Arena for a game against Finlandia University (Mich.) for youth day. Action will get underway at 3 p.m.