PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball held off the Augustana Vikings second half surge for a 67-57 victory on Tuesday on Bo Ryan Court. 

The Pioneers (3-0) had their largest lead of the game, 17 points, with 2:47 left in the first half. The Vikings (1-1) managed to cut their deficit to 12, 37-25, at halftime. Junior Jim Stocki scored 17 of the Pioneers' 37 first half points as UW-Platteville shot 63.2 percent as a team in the half.

Augustana opened the second half with a 15-7 run, 44-40, before tying the game up at 48-48 with 9:46 to play. The Pioneers finally stopped the Vikings' surge and took a seven-point led with 3:41 after a pair of free throws from Peyton River. A layup by Augustana's Nic Hoepfner put it back to a two-possession game, 62-57, but the Pioneers made their free throws down the stretch for the 67-57 win.

Stocki ended his night with a game-high 20 points, followed by classmate Jake Manning with 13 points, who also grabbed seven rebounds. River was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe for a total of 12 points, and Eric "Skip" Gerber totaled 11 points and game-high eight rebounds and five assists. 

The Pioneers will host the Pioneer Classic on Saturday and Sunday. UW-Platteville tips off with Simpson on Saturday at 7 p.m., and then with St. Olaf at 3 p.m. on Sunday.