Pioneers defeat Pointers in final seconds

STEVENS POINT Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball program (22-3, 12-2 WIAC) ranked No. 7 on the D3hoops.com poll, defeated UW-Stevens Point (15-10, 7-7 WIAC) 70-69 on Saturday night in Berg Gym to win the outright WIAC regular season title. Sophomore Kyle Tuma scored the go-ahead basket with :02 remaining.

The WIAC title is the second in three seasons for the Pioneers, 21^st in program history, and 14th outright championship. The Pioneers have 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 the win to clinch the outright title, head coach Jeff Gard said, "I'm just really so proud of this team and staff. The resiliency showed again tonight against a quality opponent and in a hostile ennvironment. Not only am I happy for this group, I'm so excited to be able to bring another championship back to Platteville and the Tri-State Area."

First half

• The Pointers got out to a 5-0 and lead the entire first half.
• The Pioneers trailed 25-34 going into halftime.
• Tuma led the Pioneers with seven first half points and was 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
• The Pioneers shot 34.8% (8-of-23) from the field and 12.5% (1-of-8) from three-point range and the Pointers shot 46.4% (13-of-28) from the field and 38.5% (5-of-13) on three-point attempts.
• The Pioneers shot 100% (8-of-8) from the free throw line and UW-Stevens Point shot 100% (3-of-3) from the free throw line.

Second half

• The Pioneers trailed 31-38 and went on a 10-2 run and took their first lead of the game on a three-pointer by sophomore Blake McCann with 12:54 remaining in the game.
• Tied 68-68 with :17 remaining, the Pointers made just one of two free throws and Tuma's layup with :02 gave the Pioneers a 70-69 lead.
• Junior Quentin Shields led the Pioneers with 11 second half points and three assists.
• Tuma scored nine points in the half and shot 80% (4-of-5) from the field.
• McCann scored all nine of his points in the second half.
• The Pioneers shot 51.7% (15-of-29) from the field and 55.6% (5-of-9) from three-point range while UW-Stevens Point shot 41.9% (13-of-31) from the field and 40% (6-of-15) on three-pointers.
• The Pioneers shot 76.9% (10-of-13) from the free throw line while UW-Stevens Point shot 60% (3-of-5).

Notables 

• UW-Platteville improves to 22-3 overall, 12-2 WIAC.
• UW-Stevens Point falls to 15-10 overall, 7-7 WIAC. 
• Tuma led the Pioneers with 16 points and shot 71.4% (5-of-7) from the field. Tuma pulled in seven rebounds.
• Senior Carter Voelker led the Pioneers with 10 rebounds.
• Junior Justin Stovall had 12 points and five rebounds and shot 62.5% (5-of-8) from the field.
• UW-Platteville shot 44.2% (23-of-52) from the field and 35.3% (6-of-17) from beyond the three-point arc. UW-Stevens Point shot 44.1% (26-of-59) from the field and 39.3% (11-of-28) from three-point territory.
• The Pioneers shot 85.7% (18-of-21) from the free throw line and the Pointers shot 75% (6-of-8).

Up next

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.