PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Pioneers had their starting five all score in double figures to open Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play, as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team beat UW-Oshkosh, 80-66, Wednesday on Bo Ryan Court. 

Senior Chas Cross led the team with 20 points and 17 rebounds for his second double-double of season. He also added a career-best five blocks and his 17 boards were a career-high as well. Junior Jim Stocki netted 15 points, while senior Eric "Skip" Gerber and sophomore Boston Johnson registered 13 apiece. Junior Jake Manning rounded out the Pioneers' scorers with 10. 

The Titans' Jade Royston led all scorers with 25 points and Dylan Wurtz was the only other UWO double-digit scorer with 10. 

The Pioneers distributed the ball very well with 18 of there 27 field goals were assisted. Gerber dished out five and Stocki and Johnson each tallied four assists. 

Cross scored the Pioneers first six points and helped UW-Platteville take a 24-14 lead midway through first half. The Titans were held to just two points in the final two minutes of the half as the Pioneers took a 43-27 advantage in to the break. 

UW-Platteville limited UWO to just two field goals in the first five minutes of the second half and took a 52-33 lead with 15:19 to play. The Pioneers kept a comfortable lead throughout the second half and were up 19 points with just over four minutes to play. The Titans never stopped fighting and cut their deficit to 12 points, 74-62, with 2:47 to go. Gerber made four free throws in the final two minutes to secure the 80-66 victory.

UW-Platteville moves to 5-2 and 1-0 in conference play and UWO falls to 1-4 and 0-1 in league action. 

The Pioneers travel to UW-River Falls on Saturday at 7 p.m. and won't return to Bo Ryan Court until Jan. 18 versus UW-La Crosse.