Playing without one starting post player was hard enough, but losing a second was too much for UW-Platteville to overcome.
Host Randolph-Macon edged the Pioneers 68-64 in the championship of the Rees Jewelers Christmas Classic Saturday night in Ashland, Va.
The Pioneers were already without injured center Jeff Skemp, but he was then joined on the bench in the second half by Mark Gossens, injured right before halftime. The senior forward's status is not immediately known. UWP had enjoyed a lead as large as 10 in the first half.
Despite the injuries, the 21st-ranked Pioneers battled to the end against a Randolph-Macon club that was ranked 15th in the D3hoops.com preseason poll.
RMC led 58-49, but UW-Platteville pulled within 62-61 with just over three minutes left on Mike Shaw's three-point basket, then tied the game on a Charlie Lohoff free throw.
David Carlson's three-point play with 1:30 to play gave the home school the lead for good at 65-62. Mike Jamerson's layup brought the Pioneers within 65-64, but after two Yellow Jacket misses at the line, the Pioneers were whistled for a traveling call with 24 seconds remaining. Carlson made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left for a 66-64 score. The Pioneers turned the ball over on their next possession, and Adam Krovic made two free throws with one second remaining to seal the win.
The Yellowjackets improved to 7-4 overall, while the Pioneers fell to 7-3.
Lohoff led the Pioneers Saturday with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, while Shaw scored 11, and Gossens had 10 points, all in the first half.
Phil Hawley came off the bench to score 16 for Randolph-Macon, while Carlson had 15 and Justin Short.
The Pioneers play at UW-Oshkosh Tuesday at 7 p.m. then face UW-Superior Saturday for their first home game in exactly a month. Saturday's tipoff is at 1 p.m. in Williams Fieldhouse.
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