One comeback was doable for UW-Platteville, but a second was just a little too much to ask.

Second-ranked UW-Whitewater held off #16 UW-Platteville 70-66 Wednesday in a battle for first place in front of 1,354 fans on Bo Ryan Court.

The Warhawks, 18-3 overall, moved into sole possession of first in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 11-2 mark. The Pioneers, who had their seven-game winning streak stopped with their first home loss, fell to 17-5, 10-3.

The Warhawk win gives the teams a split of their season series. The Pioneers won 79-73 on Jan. 23 in Whitewater.

UWP travels to UW-Superior Saturday for a 3 p.m. start and then closes the regular season with two more home games: Wednesday vs. UW-Eau Claire at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 23, vs. UW-Stevens Point at 5 p.m.

Both the Warhawks and Pioneers have clinched first-round home games for the WIAC playoffs, which begin Monday, Feb. 25.

(UW Platteville Athletics)