MENOMONIE (February 2, 2013) - It was never say die for UW-Stout.

Trailing UW-Platteville by as much as eight points midway through the second half Saturday at Johnson Fieldhouse, the Blue Devils scratched and clawed their way back in position to win the game, and win it they did, 53-50, keeping the crowd of 1100 on the edge of their seats down the stretch.

Trailing 45-37 with 9:09 remaining, Stout (17-4, 9-3 WIAC0 went on tha 7-0 run, fueled by four free throws by Alex Oman (Jr, Lake Elmo, Minn) and a 3-pointer by Chris Hortman (Sr, Milwaukee), pull to within 45-44 with 6:41 left on the clock, then tied the game at 46 apiece on a layup by Josh Kosloske (Jr, Oakfield) at 5:37.

The Pioneers' Chas Cross nailed two free throws at 4:08 to give Platteville (15-7, 8-5 WIAC) a 48-46 lead. Stout's Aaron Jenny (Jr, Spicer, Minn) made it a one-point game, 48-47, with the front end of two free throws at 2:23.

The teams traded possessions over the next two minutes until Platteville turned the ball over with 38 seconds remaining. Following a Stout timeout, the Blue Devils wasted little time when Hortman drove for the go-ahead layp with 23 seconds left for a 49-48 lead.

Platteville's Marcus Jackson missed the layup 18 seconds later and Oman came down with the rebound, and was promptly fouled. Oman drilled both free throws and Stout called timeout with a 51-48 lead.

A Hortman foul sent Cross to the line and he made both shots with 2.3 seconds remaining to tighten the score to 51-50. Hortman was fouled on the inbound pass, and made both free throws with one second left. Platteville's last gasp attempt fell short.

Platteville led nearly the entire game, but never more than eight points. Four times Stout tied the game in the first half and twice in the second. Until Hortman gave Stout the lead late in the game, the Blue Devils only led once, that coming a minute into the second half on a 3-pointer by Oman.

Hortman and Cross both finished the night with 17 points, and both had eight points at halftime. Oman finished the game with 15 points. Platteville's Eric Gerber had 11 points. Cross posted the double-double, pulling dow 12 boards.

Neither team shot well. Platteville was 16-38 from the floor (42.1 percent), while Stout was 19-54 (35.2 percent). Platteville held a slim 31-30 lead in rebounds.

The win moved Stout into a tie for second place with idle UW-Whitewater. UW-Stevens Point lost their second consecutive game and Stout is a game-and-a-half behind the Pointers.

Stout will travel to UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Feb. 6, then are at UW-Eau Claire, Saturday, Feb. 9