La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team earned a 85-70 victory over UW-Platteville Saturday afternoon in Mitchell Hall.  The Eagles improve to 14-8 overall and 8-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while the Pioneers drop to 12-9 overall and 7-5 in the conference.  With the win, UW-L moves into third-place in the league standings.

UW-L led 21-20 with 7:09 left in the opening half when it went on an 11-0 run to lead 32-20 with 4:44 remaining. Luke Tweed hit a pair of three-point field goals in the Eagles' run.  UW-Platteville cut the lead to 32-23 on a three-point field goal from Boston Johnson, but UW-L used a 8-2 run to take its largest lead of the half at 40-25.  The Eagles led 42-28 at halftime.

Braden Tice opened the second half with a three-pointer for UW-L to make it 45-28.  The Eagles led 53-40 with 16:25 remaining after a Lucas Collom layup, but the Pioneers went on a 14-3 run to cut their deficit to 56-54 with 11:08 left after a Chas Cross three-point play.

UW-L responded with a 12-2 run to lead 68-56 with 6:49 remaining. Tice made a pair of three-point field goals in the run.  UW-Platteville later cut the lead to 71-63 with 4:00 left, but the Pioneers could get no closer the rest of the game.  The Eagles went on a 10-0 run to lead 81-63.

UW-L shot 53.8% from the field, including 53.8% (14-of-26) from three-point range, and 83.3% (15-of-18) at the free throw line.  The Eagles shot 56.3% (nine-of-16) from three-point range in the first half.  UW-L's 14 three-point field goals is second-most this season.  The team had a season-high 15 three-point field goals in a 88-83 win over seventh-ranked UW-Whitewater January 22.

Tweed tied his career-high with 23 points Saturday, finishing seven-of-10 from the field, including four-of-six from three-point range.  He was five-of-six at the free throw line and finished with five rebounds.  Calahan Skogman also finished with 23 points, hitting four three-point field goals.  He also recorded a team-high nine rebounds and five assists.

Collom was the third player to finish in double figures for UW-L Saturday, totaling 17 points. He was two-of-four from three-point range and finished with five rebounds.

Tice totaled nine points, going three-of-five from three-point range.

UW-Platteville shot 44.1% from the field, including 33.3% (seven-of-21) from three-point range, and 78.6% (11-of-14) from the free throw line.

Cross led four Pioneers in double figures with 20 points, going nine-of-11 from the field, including one-of-two from three-point range, and one-of-two at the line.  He also had a team-high seven rebounds.  Eric Gerber totaled 18 points, five assists and four steals for UW-Platteville while Johnson finished with 12 points and Jim Stocki had 11 points and five rebounds.

UW-L returns to action Wednesday, February 12 at seventh-ranked UW-Whitewater at 7 p.m.