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2015-16 Schedule (includes live coverage links)
UW-Platteville Men's Basketball Web Page
UW-Stout Men's Basketball Web Page
 
By A.J. Bocchini, Athletic Communications Intern
 
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men basketball team will travel to rival UW-Platteville on Wednesday before returning home on Saturday to host UW Stout at 5 p.m.
 
Both matchups are key to the Warhawks' post-season hopes. UW-Whitewater enters the week at 13-8 overall and 4-6 in league play, putting them in a tie for sixth with both UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point.
 
Last Week
 
It was a bit of an up-and-down week for the Warhawks. On Wednesday, they traveled to UW-Stevens Point, where they picked up a 72-51 victory before falling to UW-La Crosse 74-68 on Saturday.
 
In Wednesday's game, the Warhawks were led by their defense and three-point shooting, holding the Pointers to 27 percent (13-of-48) shooting. In comparison, the Warhawks shot 56.5 percent from the field, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range. UW-Whitewater was led in scoring by senior guard Trinson White (Milwaukee, Wis./Riverside) with 23 points. Junior forward Cole Van Schyndel (Kaukauna, Wis./Wrightstown) added 15 points and six rebounds.
 
Saturday's game against UW La Crosse was a different story. The league-leading Eagles shot 8-for-14 from 3-point range en route to defeating the Warhawks. UW-Whitewater shot 37.5 percent from the field, while the Eagles shot 48 percent.
 
This Week
 
This week, when the Warhawks face UW-Platteville (10-11, 4-6), both teams enter the game in a tie for the conference's final tournament spot.
 
The Pioneers enter the game having dropped their last three contests. However, UW-Platteville defeated the Warhawks in the first matchup at Whitewater, 78-75, in overtime. UW-Platteville also has three of the conference's top 16 scorers on their roster, led by Boston Johnson, who averages 13.9 points per game. Along with Johnson, Cory Vaassen and Matt Oestreich average almost 11 and 13 points per game, respectively, and will make Wednesday a tough challenge for the Warhawks.
 
UW-Stout enters the week at 4-16 overall and 0-10 in the WIAC, and will face UW-Stevens Point on Wednesday before traveling to Whitewater for the game on Saturday.
 
The Blue Devils are coming off a one-point boss at home against fourth-place UW-Oshkosh this past Saturday. They are led by John Keefe, who averages 12.6 points per contest.