Despite a recent roller-coaster ride UW-Whitewater stayed firmly in the driver's seat in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 83-73 win over UW-Platteville at Kachel Gym in Williams Center in Whitewater Wednesday night.

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After the Pioneers scored the first basket UW-W scored the next twelve points, with that 12-2 lead being the largest lead the Warhawks would hold in the first half.  Platteville had a 7-0 spurt to cut it to 16-13 at 12:53 and the lead stayed in the mid single digits on the way to a 40-34 Whitewater lead at the half.

With the score 46-42 Whitewater, the Warhawks scored eight straight in ninety seconds to make 54-42 at 13:27.  That spurt gave UW-W some breathing room, and the Warhawks got it to thirteen with under five minutes to go, 71-58 at 4:48.  UW-P could not get the lead under seven the rest of the way. 

Whitewater shot 65% from the field, their second best shooting game of the season and almost twenty percentage points higher than the Pioneers (46%).  Both teams made 15 free throws, but Platteville missed just two at 15-17 while the Warhawks were 15-21.   Both teams attempted the same number of threes, 13, but Whitewater doubled UW-P making eight to the Pioneers' four.

Senior center Dustin Mitchell (Lac Du Flambeau/Lakeland) made it into double figures in double doubles, scoring 20 and grabbing 10 boards.  Senior forward Mike Bendall (Oconomowoc/Oconomowoc) tied Mitchell with 20 points, and junior guard #D.J. Dantzler# scored 16 including 3-3 from beyond the arc.  Freshman guard Nolan Free (Sheboygan/North) had his best game of the season, contributing game highs with seven assists and four steals, adding eight points and six rebounds.

The Pioneers were led by senior guard Curt Hanson with a game high 25 points.  Junior forward Eric Wall notched a double double of his own with 21 points and ten rebounds.  Senior guard Mike Shaw was also in double figures with 16 points.  Hanson led UW-P with four assists and three steals.

UW-W is 11-3 in the WIAC, tied with UW-Stevens Point for first, and 19-4 overall.  Platteville is 12-11 and 6-8 in the conference.

UW-Whitewater will host UW-Eau Claire Saturday at 5:00 in Williams Center.  

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach