It didn't take the UW-Superior men's basketball team long to realize that Saturday afternoon's contest against UW-Platteville would provide a much stiffer challenge than Thursday night's win at UW-Oshkosh.

The Pioneers jumped out to 30-9 lead in the first 10 minutes and never looked back on the way to posting a 96-55 win over the Yellowjackets at Williams Fieldhouse in Platteville.

In halting UW-Superior's three-game winning streak, the Pioneers connected on 64.1 percent of their shots (41-of-64) and limited the Yellowjackets to just 36.2 percent shooting (17-of-47) while also forcing 17 turnovers.  UW-Platteville improved to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the WIAC with the win while UW-Superior fell to 6-9 overall and 2-4 in league play.

Five quick points from Pioneers center Chas Cross gave UW-Platteville a quick 5-2 lead in the first two minutes of the opening half.

Trent Davis (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Bernard's) responded for the Yellowjackets, knocking down a three-pointer from the top of the key to even matters at 5-5 on the next possession.

But the Pioneers would score 25 of the next 29 points, taking a 30-9 lead on jumper by Eric Gerber with 10:11 remaining in the first half.

The lead continued to grow for the rest of the first half, as a three-pointer by Jim Stocki made it a 35-11 game at the 7:09 mark before two free throws by Marcus Jackson with 22 seconds left gave UW-Platteville their largest lead of the half at 50-22 before heading into the intermission holding a commanding 50-24 bulge.

UW-Superior never got closer than 20 points the rest of the way as the Pioneers closed the contest on a 9-0 run to provide the final margin of victory.

Offensively, the Yellowjackets were paced by Davis, Brendan Bauer (Eleva, Wis./Gilmanton) and Austin Cahill with nine points each.

UW-Platteville was led by Cross, who scored all of his game-high 22 points in the opening half. Jackson added 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting while Jake Manning pitched in with 14 points.

The Yellowjackets return home to face UW-Whitewater next Saturday.  The opening tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on tape delay at a yet to be determined time on 91.3 FM KUWS.  Matt Johnson will be on the call.

It didn't take the UW-Superior men's basketball team long to realize that Saturday afternoon's contest against UW-Platteville would provide a much stiffer challenge than Thursday night's win at UW-Oshkosh.

The Pioneers jumped out to 30-9 lead in the first 10 minutes and never looked back on the way to posting a 96-55 win over the Yellowjackets at Williams Fieldhouse in Platteville.

In halting UW-Superior's three-game winning streak, the Pioneers connected on 64.1 percent of their shots (41-of-64) and limited the Yellowjackets to just 36.2 percent shooting (17-of-47) while also forcing 17 turnovers.  UW-Platteville improved to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in the WIAC with the win while UW-Superior fell to 6-9 overall and 2-4 in league play.

Five quick points from Pioneers center Chas Cross gave UW-Platteville a quick 5-2 lead in the first two minutes of the opening half.

Trent Davis (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Bernard's) responded for the Yellowjackets, knocking down a three-pointer from the top of the key to even matters at 5-5 on the next possession.

But the Pioneers would score 25 of the next 29 points, taking a 30-9 lead on jumper by Eric Gerber with 10:11 remaining in the first half.

The lead continued to grow for the rest of the first half, as a three-pointer by Jim Stocki made it a 35-11 game at the 7:09 mark before two free throws by Marcus Jackson with 22 seconds left gave UW-Platteville their largest lead of the half at 50-22 before heading into the intermission holding a commanding 50-24 bulge.

UW-Superior never got closer than 20 points the rest of the way as the Pioneers closed the contest on a 9-0 run to provide the final margin of victory.

Offensively, the Yellowjackets were paced by Davis, Brendan Bauer (Eleva, Wis./Gilmanton) and Austin Cahill with nine points each.

UW-Platteville was led by Cross, who scored all of his game-high 22 points in the opening half. Jackson added 18 points on 7-of-7 shooting while Jake Manning pitched in with 14 points.

The Yellowjackets return home to face UW-Whitewater next Saturday.  The opening tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on tape delay at a yet to be determined time on 91.3 FM KUWS.  Matt Johnson will be on the call.