Pioneers record setting night calms the Storm
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s basketball team has started 3-0 for the second consecutive season with a 91-55 blowout over Simpson College.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team has started 3-0 for the second consecutive season with a 91-55 blowout over Simpson College. Quentin Shields lead the Pioneers collecting a career high 19 points, with 17 of those coming in the first half.
The Storm (2-2) trailed the Pioneers 16-19 with 10 minutes to play in the first half before Shields and company put on a 3-point clinic. UW-Platteville connected 7 times from behind the arc in the final 10 minutes of the first half to give the Pioneers a 48-33 halftime lead.
UW-Platteville gave Simpson little hope in the second half. Holding a 53-40 lead with 17:38 remaining, the Pioneers went on a 19-0 run over the next 9 minutes to push the score to 72-40 and breeze to the win.
The final 8 minutes provided valuable court time as all 19 UW-Platteville players dressed for the game saw action, and 12 different Pioneers scored. Shields was followed in scoring by Colin Connelly with 14, and Robert Duax and Trey Sigel who had 12 a piece. Duax lead the Pioneers with five rebounds and Connelly in assists with four.
Seven Pioneers combined to make 16 3-pointers, breaking the previous record of 14 set in 2008. UW-Platteville also collected 24 assists, their most since 2015, from 13 different players. For the game the Pioneers shot 61.1% (33-54) from the field, 59.3% (16-27) behind the arc, and 90% (9-10) from the free throw line.
UW-Platteville travels to Colorado Springs this weekend for the Rocky Mountain Thanksgiving Classic. The Pioneers face off against Carleton College at 2:00 p.m. CST on Friday, and Millikin at 12:00 p.m. CST Saturday.