Yellowjackets 64, Platteville 61
Box Score

The start of the 2012 calendar year to has proven to be a good one for the UW-Superior men's basketball team.  Coming off a victory over UW-Oshkosh in their first game of the new year, the Yellowjackets hoped to take sole possession of fourth place in the WIAC when they hosted UW-Platteville at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

And as it turned out, the Yellowjackets did just enough to meet that goal, taking a 12-point lead in the second half and then hanging on down the stretch to pick up a 64-61 win.

The victory ups UW-Superior's overall mark to 10-5 for the season while also giving the Yellowjackets a 4-2 mark in WIAC conference action.  The Pioneers, who entered the contest having won five of their previous six games, fell to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in league action.

The first half saw both teams struggle offensively in the early going before the Pioneers took a 6-4 lead on a layup by Jake Manning with 14:52 left in the opening half.

UW-Superior came right back behind consecutive three-pointers by Adam Hjelter (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) and Dustin Ritchie (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) to take a 14-10 lead after a layup by Ben Aalfs (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) with 11:58 remaining in the half.

The Yellowjackets took their largest lead of the game at 18-13 shortly thereafter on an inside score from Bronson Byrne (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) with 9:14 left.

UW-Platteville responded later in the half, using a Chas Cross' dunk in transition to fuel a 12-1 run that yielded a 25-19 Pioneers' lead after jumper by Brett Stangel 1:47 remaining.

A three by Aalfs and a tip-in by Walter Charlton (Nassau, Bahamas/Teleos Christian) in the final 1:29 brought the Yellowjackets within 25-24 at the intermission.

In the second half, the Yellowjackets started on a 15-5 burst over the opening 6:09 of play, taking a 39-30 lead on a jumper by Aalfs witih 13:51 showing on the clock.

The lead would build to 53-41 after a three from Hjelter with 8:19 left before the Pioneers steadily rallied, cutting the UW-Superior lead to 61-59 on a jumper by Stangel with 21 seconds left in the game.

UW-Superior would get four key free throws from Ritchie down the stretch however to seal the victory.

For the game, the Yellowjackets were led by Aalfs with 17 points.  Ritchie and Byrne each added 11 points for UW-Superior while Trent Davis (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Bernard's) and Hjelter each added eight.

Stangel and Cross each had a game-high 19 points for the Pioneers.

UW-Superior hits the road to face UW-Whitewater on Saturday.  Game time is set for 3 p.m.