Box Score WHITEWATER – The No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team jumped out to a quick start and didn't let up Saturday in a 76-60 triumph over UW-Platteville in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
The Warhawks (6-1 overall, 2-0 WIAC) led 16-6 eight minutes into the contest, maintained their lead and shot 51.9 percent form the floor in the second half to stave off the Pioneers.
 
Senior guard Quardell Young (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford) drove to the basket for a lay-up with 11:43 left in the first half and was fouled to become the 27th player in UW-Whitewater men's basketball history to reach 1,000 points for his career. Young finished with 12 points, four assists and five steals in the contest.
 
Senior wing KJ Evans (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial) tallied a game-high 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Junior wing Xzavier Moananu (Kansas City, Mo./Raytown South) registered 14 points and a team-best 12 rebounds, while senior guard Cody Odegaard (Poynette, Wis./Poynette) totaled 11 points for the Warhawks, who have now won eight consecutive games against UW-Platteville (5-3, 1-1).
 
Junior forward Ron Patten (Milwaukee, Wis./Whitefish Bay) added 11 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench.
 
For the game, UW-Whitewater shot 46.8 percent from the field and outrebounded the Pioneers 44-27, including a 15-3 advantage on the offensive boards that led to 15 second-chance points.
 
The Warhawks took a 39-28 lead into the locker room after forcing the Pioneers into 37.5 percent shooting, including a 1-of-9 clip from 3-point range.
 
In the second half, UW-Whitewater opened up a 54-35 lead with 13:01 on the clock following a jumper by Evans.
 
UW-Platteville trimmed the Warhawks' advantage to 14 points by the 12:07 mark, but Evans converted a lay-up and Moananu recorded two more layups to put UW-Whitewater ahead 60-40 with 11:20 to play.
 
The Pioneers drew to within 65-54 with 6:17 left following an 8-0 run, including back-to-back 3-pointers, but Moananu posted five straight points to give the Warhawks a 19-point lead with 1:46 on the clock.
 
UW-Whitewater outscored UW-Platteville 38-24 on points in the paint.  
 
The Warhawks head back to non-conference play Wednesday for a showdown at top-ranked Augustana. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Rock Island, Ill.