Pioneers capture regular season title with big win over Blugolds

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball program (21-3, 11-2 WIAC) ranked No. 7 on the D3hoops.com poll, defeated UW-Eau Claire (17-7, 8-5 WIAC) 80-56 on Wednesday night at Zorn Arena. With the victory, the Pioneers secured at minimum a share of the WIAC regular season championship. 

The WIAC title is the second in three seasons for the Pioneers and a 21^st in program history. The win on Wednesday night also clinched the first seed in the WIAC Championship tournament (presented by Culver's). The winner of the WIAC tournament will receive the conference's automatic NCAA bid. 

Remarks from Coach Gard

After capturing the title, head coach Jeff Gard said, "I'm very proud of our team's effort and attention to detail in practice leading up to tonight's game. It was very evident that the guys were locked into the game plan."  

Reflecting back on the season and up to the win over the Blugolds, Gard added, "This group has been committed from the first time they stepped on campus this fall to be all in and committed to the culture of Pioneer men's basketball that has been established by all those who have put on the orange and blue." 

Looking ahead, Gard said, "We still know that there is unfinished business and an opportunity for us to continue getting better starting with practice tomorrow. 

First half

• The Pioneers trailed 2-11 less than five minutes into the half and took the lead 10 minutes later at 25-24 with 5:12 remaining.
• The Pioneers led 35-28 going into halftime.
• Senior Carter Voelker had 10 points and five rebounds in the half and shot 44.4% (4-of-9) from the field including 2-of-4 from three point range.
• Sophomore Kyle Tuma had seven points on just three shots from the field and led the Pioneers with two blocks in the half.
• The Pioneers shot 46.7% (14-of-30) from the field and 45.5% (5-of-11) from three-point range and the Blugolds shot 42.9% (12-of-28) from the field and 30% (3-of-10) on three-point attempts.
• The Pioneers shot 50% (4-of-8) from the free throw line and UW-Eau Claire shot 66.7% (4-of-6) from the free throw line.

Second half

• The Pioneers' maintained a 6-12 point lead most of the second half but finished with a 20-6 run in the final nine minutes to break the game open.
• Junior Drew Gunnink had nine points in the half without missing a shot. Gunnink was 3-of-3 on three-point attempts.
• Sophomore Blake McCann also had nine points and shot 75% (3-of-4) from the field including 2-of-2 behind the three-point arc.
• The Pioneers shot 58.6% (17-of-29) from the field and 81.8% (9-of-11) from three-point range while UW-Eau Claire shot 46.2% (12-of-26) from the field and 36.4% (4-of-11) on three-pointers.
• The Pioneers shot 70% (7-of-10) from the free throw line while UW-Eau Claire shot 70% (7-of-10).

Notables 

• UW-Platteville improves to 21-3 overall, 11-2 WIAC.
• UW-Eau Claire falls to 17-7 overall, 8-5 WIAC. 
• The team effort included five Pioneers scoring in double digits without any scoring more than 14 points.
• Gunnink led the way with 14 points on 83.3% (5-of-6) shooting from the field and 80% (4-of-5) on three-pointers.
• Voelker finished with 13 points and led the Pioneers with nine rebounds and five steals.
• UW-Platteville shot 52.5% (31-of-59) from the field and 63.6% (14-of-22) from beyond the three-point arc. UW-Eau Claire shot 44.4% (24-of-54) from the field and 33.3% (7-of-21) from three-point territory.
• The Pioneers shot 100% (4-of-4) from the free throw line and the Blugolds shot 50% (1-of-2).

Up next

Coming up, a win against UW-Stevens Point on Saturday or a loss by UW-Oshkosh (16-8, 10-3 WIAC) against UW-River Falls would secure the outright title. As the first seed in the WIAC tournament, the Pioneers will have a bye in the first round and will host the lowest remaining seed on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. on Bo Ryan Court.

A fan bus is set for Saturday night's game. The bus will load at Williams Fieldhouse at 1:45 p.m. and leave for UWSP at 2 p.m. The cost of the bus is $22 per person, with the game ticket to be purchased in Stevens Point. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Reserve a spot on the bus by paying with cash or a check in the Athletic Office in Williams Fieldhouse. The bus will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.