PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Senior leadership guided the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team to victory over UW-Stout, 70-53, in the first-round of the WIAC Tournament on Wednesday on Bo Ryan Court. 

Senior Chas Cross scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double and fifth on the season. Classmate Eric "Skip" Gerber netted 17 points, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and added five assists. 

Jimmy Whitehead led the Blue Devils with 16 points and six rebounds. 

With the game tied at 10-10, the Pioneers went on a 20-0 run, breaking the game open, 28-10, with 8:37 till halftime. UW-Platteville was held scoreless in the final three minutes of the opening period, as Stout cut the lead to 34-20 at halftime. 

Three of the Blue Devils' six field goals were three-pointers and ended up shooting 30 percent from the field. The Pioneers shot 65 percent from the floor and outscored Stout 22-4 on points in the paint.

UW-Platteville never allowed the Blue Devils to get any closer than 10 points in the second half. The Pioneer seniors, Cross and Gerber, kept the Blue Devils at bay, scoring 14 of the team's final 17 points. 

The Pioneers advance to the WIAC Semifinals, and travels to No. 1 UW-Stevens Point on Friday. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. on Bennett Court.