Junior center Jeff Skemp scored a career high 30 points to lead UW-Platteville to a 79-73 win over sixth-ranked UW-Whitewater Wednesday night in Kachel Gym of Williams Center in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

box score

Whitewater's largest lead in the first half was five points, 20-15. with 9:25 remaining on a layup by senior center Josh King (Janesville/Craig).  Platteville came back with an 8-2 run, ending with a three point play by junior guard Bo Richter that gave the Pioneers a 23-22 lead.  Platteville increased its lead to as many as seven in the first half and led 37-33 at halftime.

Whitewater regained the lead 42-41 on a Kori Vernon (Madison/Memorial) layup at 17:06, but a three-pointer by sophomore guard Curt Hanson gave the Pioneers a 49-47 lead at 13:24, and they never gave it back.  Whitewater stayed close, pulling within three points four times in the last two minutes.  UW-W even cut the margin to two, 75-73 on a layup by Vernon with four seconds left, but sophomore guards Josh Langenfeld and Mike Shaw both went 2-2 from the line to close out the game.

Skemp's 30 point night tops his previous best, 23, which he accomplished twice earlier this season, including last Wednesday against UW-La Crosse.  Skemp went 11-15 from the floor and 8-8 from the line.  Hanson added 12 and Langenfeld 11 to back up Skemp.  Junior guard Myles McKay (Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls) led the Warhawks with 19 points, and was the game's leading rebounder with eight.  Vernon contributed 15 points, and senior center Josh King (Janesville/Craig) 12.  Sophomore guard Kevin Koski (Jefferson/Jefferson) dished out a game-high five assists.

Skemp's output overcame 62% field goal shooting by the Warhawks.

UW-Whitewater, 13-3 overall and 6-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will travel to UW-Superior Saturday and host UW-La Crosse Wednesday.  UW-Platteville is 12-4 overall and 6-2 in the WIAC.