The Pioneer men’s basketball team survived in double-overtime at UW-La Crosse on Feb. 7 and redeemed themselves for a non-conference loss against Robert Morris College-Springfield last year with a good home win on Feb. 9.

After being delayed due to weather conditions, the UW-LC Eagles were ready for the No.17- ranked Pioneers to step into their gym for their WIAC battle. The two teams battled into double-overtime with the Pioneers emerging with the 78-77 win.

The Pioneers would lead by as many as seven in the first half, but the Eagles pulled back to within two to go into the locker room down 28-26.

The score remained close throughout the second half and the Eagles took the lead from the Pioneers with 14:30 remaining. The two teams continued to go back-and-forth up to the last seconds of the game. Pioneer junior Jeff Skemp sent the game into overtime with a lay-up with less than 20 seconds left in the game. Skemp would finish the night with 29 points and 16 rebounds.

“Jeff played an amazing game,” sophomore Curt Hanson said. “This game was a lot of fun going into double-overtime in a great atmosphere.”

Hanson finished the game with 20 points for the Pioneers.

UW-LC would take control of the first minute-and-a-half in overtime, leading by as many as four. The Pioneers’ first basket in overtime would be a lay-up from Hanson. UW-LC would lead by three with just under two minutes to play in overtime. A three-pointer from junior Charlie Lohoff with little over a minute left would be enough to send the game into its second overtime.

The Pioneers would score first in the second overtime, with a lay-up from sophomore guard Mike Shaw. The Pioneers were able to hold onto the lead through the second overtime, earning the hard fought 78-77 victory. UW-LC fell to 10-11 overall and 5-7 in the WIAC.

“I was pleased with our overall effort and ability to execute when the game was on the line,” head coach Paul Combs said. “Jeff and Charlie made big plays in crunch time.”

On Saturday, RMC-Springfield came to Bo Ryan Court for a non-conference match-up with the Pioneers. UW-Platteville lost to them last year in Springfield and were looking for revenge on their home court.

The Pioneers scored first with two free-throws from freshman Eric Wall. The game would stay close until the Pioneers began to pull away with two back-to-back jump shots from sophomore Josh Langenfeld. Langenfeld ended the day as the Pioneers leading scorer with 17 points. The Pioneers would go into the locker room leading 37-26.

The Pioneers continued to lead the Eagles through the second-half. Fourteen Pioneers scored in the game, winning 80-56.

“We played really good basketball as a team, and it gave guys a chance who don’t get to play a lot, to build some confidence,” Skemp said. “It felt good to get a win after that frustrating loss last year.”

RMC-Springfield would drop to 12-13 overall while the Pioneers improved to 17-4 overall and 10-2 in conference play.