In a thrilling back-and-forth game between two nationally ranked teams, #20 UW-Platteville beat #18 UW Oshkosh Wednesday in the Titans' Kolf Sports Center.

The game featured 13 ties and nine lead changes, with the final score being the largest margin of the night.

The victory kept the Pioneers within a game of first-place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. UW-Platteville improved to 17-3 overall and 7-2 in the WIAC, while UW Oshkosh fell to 15-5, 5-4. UWSP beat UW-Whitewater 74-60, moving to 8-1 in league play.

Quentin Shields scored 19 points, and Robert Duax and Matt Oestreich each scored 15 to pace the Pioneers, whose bench outscored the hosts 23-8.

Jack Flynn had a game-high 21 points, and Ben Boots scored 14 for the Titans, who were held to 2-21 (9.5 percent) from beyond the three-point line.

A Boots basket brought the Titans within 64-62 with 29 seconds left, before Oestreich (14 seconds remaining) and Shields (4.4 seconds left) each made 1-2 free throws for a 66-62 lead. The Pioneers then forced a turnover with three seconds left, and Alex Ranney sealed the game with two free throws.

The Pioneers, winners of five of their last six games, play at UW-La Crosse Saturday at 5 p.m., then close the regular season with three out of four games on Bo Ryan Court. The next home contest is Wednesday, Feb. 7 against UW-Stevens Point.

By Paul Erickson, Director, UW-Platteville Communications, 608.342.1194, pr@uwplatt.edu