No. 10 Pioneers improve to 9-0

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (9-0) ranked No. 10 on the D3hoops.com poll, defeated Bethel (Minn.) (6-3) on Saturday afternoon in the Robertson Center. 

First half

• After getting down 10-12 with 10:28 remaining in the half, the Pioneers scored 18 unanswered points in the next seven minutes to take a commanding 28-12 lead.
• The Pioneers went into halftime leading the Royals 30-17.
• Junior Quentin Shields had nine points and four rebounds before the half.
• Sophomore Kyle Tuma and junior Justin Fox each had five first half rebounds.
• The Pioneers shot 40.6% (13-of-32) from the field and 33.3% (2-of-6) from three-point range and held the Royals to 24.1% (7-of-29) from the field and a better 13.3% (2-of-15) on three-point attempts.
• The Pioneers went 2-of-5 from the free throw line and Bethel was 1-of-3.

Second half

• The Pioneers maintained a double digit lead most of the half and had a 10+ lead the final seven minutes.
• Shields scored 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting and 2-of-4 on three-pointers.
• Tuma and junior Justin Stovall each added six points in the second half. 
• The Pioneers shot 53.8% (14-of-26) from the field and 57.1% (4-of-7) from three-point range while improved to 45.8% (11-of-24) from the field and 27.3% (3-of-11) on three-pointers. 
• The Pioneers shot just 42.9% (3-of-7) from the free throw line while Bethel shot 80% (12-of-15). 

Notables 

• UW-Platteville improved to 9-0 on the season.
• Bethel fell to 6-3 overall. 
• Shields finished with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists. 
• Senior Carter Voelker finished with 12 points and shot 66.7% (4-of-6) from the field and went 2-of-3 on three-pointers.
• UW-Platteville finished 46.6% (27-of-58) from the field and 46.2% (6-of-13) from beyond the three-point arc. Bethel shot 34% (18-of-53) and 19.2% (5-of-26) from three-point territory.
• The Pioneers were just 41.7% (5-of-12) from the free throw line while the Royals shot 72.2% (13-of-18)

Up next

The Pioneers will travel to Belton, Texas to play in the 2019 Cru Classic. The Pioneers face LeTourneau on Friday Dec. 27 at 3:00 pm CST.