Big win for men's basketball on senior night, 64-61

Written by: Jeremy Williamson, Sports Information Assistant

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- After losing their previous two games, the Pioneer men's basketball team rebounded with a big win over the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 64-61, Wednesday night at Bo Ryan Court.

Not only was it senior night for the men's basketball program, but Jake Manning was able to cross the 1000 career point mark and the Pioneers latched their final regular season home game with a win.

Coach Jeff Guard went with five seniors to start the game including Manning, Jim Stocki, Wes Nemitz, Steve Scharch and Collin Macomber.

Unfortunately, the senior squad had a tough time finding open shots early, as the Eagles quickly ran off to a 7-0 lead.

At the 15:36 mark, the three designated senior starters were rotated with their underclass counterparts of Matt Oestreich, Cory Vaassen and Boston Johnson.

Manning was the first Pioneer on the board at about five minutes into the first period, 9-2.

Manning also led all scorers for the night with 25, shooting 10-16 from the field, 5-5 from the free throw line, and also grabbed 10 boards for the double-double.

After trailing 11-2 the Pioneers went on an eight point run, as Vassenn hit a hard earned and-one, off a nice pass from Johnson, to close the gap to one, 11-10.

A few possessions later, Vassenn finished off his second consecutive and-one within two minutes, to bring the game within two, 17-15.

Vaassen shot 5-8 from the field, ending the game with 13 points and five rebounds, all defensive.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the Eagles hit close to 43 percent from behind the arch in the first 15 minutes of the game, going 6-14, while UW-Platteville shot 20 percent, going 1-5 in that same time.

Oestreich gave the Pioneers their first lead of the game with a tough three-pointer, followed by a jump shot in the ensuing possession, 32-31.

The Eagles held the ball for the final shot of the half, but were unsuccessful as the Pioneers walked into the locker room with their one-point lead.

The Eagles were on the board first as they took a quick early half lead, but a soft Manning shot from the baseline brought the Pioneers back up by one, 34-33.

After the Eagles held the lead for a few minutes, Manning tied it up at 38 and moments later Stocki tied it back at 40.

Manning joined the Pioneer 1000-point club at the 10:32 mark to bring the game within two, but an ensuing Eagle three brought the lead back to five halfway through the second period, 48-43.

At the 5:52 mark, a strong post move by Manning, followed by a successful and-one tied the game up at 50 apiece.

A good Nemitz three to tie the game at 53, followed by another Manning shot moments later, gave the Pioneers their first lead since the first minute of the half.

With the game tied at 57 and 1:27 left on the clock, Oestreich drove to the basket to finish nicely, with a free-throw to follow, 60-57.

Two unsuccessful Eagle shots and a Pioneer rebound, followed by a quick foul, sent Oestreich to the line where he hit both to make it a three point game with 21 seconds left, 62-59.

Oestreich finished 100 percent from the field, going 5-5 for a total of 15 points, to go along with three assists.

The Eagles scored quickly to bring the game within one, 62-61, but a pair of Manning free throws sent the Pioneers back up by three, 64-61.

A failed three-point attempt with the clock running out left the Pioneers with their 16^th and final home win of the regular season, 64-61.

The Pioneers travel to UW-River Falls to take on the Falcons on Feb. 21 for their final regular season game, before the WIAC tournament.