Oles hand Men's Basketball first loss

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – St. Olaf handed the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team its first loss of the season, 68-62, Sunday in the final day of the Pioneer Classic. 

Seniors Chas Cross and Eric Gerber led the Pioneers with 14 points apiece. Cross added a game-high six rebounds and three blocks, while Gerber recorded four assists and five boards. The Oles had a trio of 13-point scorers, Sterling Nielsen, Josh Pratt and Matthew Hultgren. 

UW-Platteville started out slow and didn't get onto the board until 16:44. The Pioneers finally got things rolling and earned their largest lead of the game of 11 points, 27-16, with 7:38 till halftime. St. Olaf's Justin Pahl made a three-pointer in the final minute of the half, cutting the Pioneers' lead to eight, 40-32. 

The Oles came out of halftime with a 10-2 run, tying the game up at 42-42.

Even with 11 second half turnovers and shooting 36 percent in the final half, the Pioneers still had a chance to win.  

Sterling tied the game up at 56 with under five minutes to play, which led to the Oles to score six unanswered with just over a minute to go. St. Olaf made its free throws down the stretch earning the 68-62 win. 

The Pioneers will go on the road for the first time on the year when they travel to Buena Vista on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3 p.m.