Pioneers fall to Blugolds in WIAC semifinals

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball program (22-4, 12-2 WIAC) ranked No. 6 on the D3hoops.com poll, fell to UW-Eau Claire (19-8, 8-6 WIAC) 74-78 on Thursday night in the second round of the WIAC Men's Basketball Championship.

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Pioneers fall to Blugolds in WIAC semifinals
February 28, 2020

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball program (22-4, 12-2 WIAC) ranked No. 6 on the D3hoops.com poll, fell to UW-Eau Claire (19-8, 8-6 WIAC) 74-78 on Thursday night in the second round of the WIAC Men's Basketball Championship.

First half

  • With the score tied 10-10 five minutes into the game, the Blugolds went on a 21-3 run to take a 31-13 lead with 7:43 remaining in the half.
  • The Pioneers cut the lead to 10 points and trailed 28-38 going into halftime.
  • Junior Quentin Shields led the Pioneers in scoring with 11 points and shot 66.7% (4-of-6) from the field.
  • The Pioneers shot 43.5% (10-of-23) from the field and 37.5% (3-of-8) from three-point range and the Blugolds shot 46.9% (15-of-32) from the field and 35.3% (6-of-17) on three-point attempts.
  • The Pioneers shot 71.4% (5-of-7) from the free throw line and UW-Eau Claire shot 100% (2-of-2) from the free throw line.

Second half

  • Trailing 39-49, the Pioneers scored eight unanswered points to bring the score to 47-49 and erased the deficit at 52-52 with 12:56 remaining.
  • The Pioneers led 74-69 with 4:21 remaining and were held scoreless for the remainder while the Blugolds scored the final nine points of the game.
  • Shields had 20 second half points and shot 50% (6-of-12) from the field, 60% (3-of-5) from three-point range and shot 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Shields added three assists and two steals.
  • Senior Carter Voelker scored 14 points in the half and added four rebounds and three assists. Voelker shot 55.6% (5-of-9) from the field and 66.7% (4-of-6) from deep.
  • The Pioneers shot 57.7% (15-of-26) from the field and 69.2% (9-of-13) from three-point range while UW-Eau Claire shot 61.5% (16-of-26) from the field and 66.7% (4-of-6) on three-pointers
  • The Pioneers shot 77.8% (7-of-9) from the free throw line while UW-Eau Claire shot 57.1% (4-of-7).

Notables 

  • UW-Platteville falls to 22-4 overall, 12-2 WIAC.
  • UW-Eau Claire improves to 16-10 overall, 8-6 WIAC. 
  • Shields finished with a career high 31 points, four assists and two steals. Shields shot 55.6% (10-of-18) from the field, 57.1% (4-of-7) from three-point range and 87.5% (7-of-8) from the free throw line. Shields is now second all-time with 31 points in a single WIAC Tournament game and sits behind Blake Knutson who scored 32 points against UW-Stout, also on Feb. 27 of 1999.
  • Voelker finished with 18 points and led the Pioneers with eight rebounds and six assists. Voelker shot 46.2% (6-of-13) from the field and 55.6% (5-of-9) from three-point range.
  • UW-Platteville shot 51% (25-of-49) from the field and 57.1% (12-of-21) from beyond the three-point arc. UW-Eau Claire shot 53.4% (31-of-58) from the field and 43.5% (10-of-23) from three-point territory.
  • The Pioneers shot 75% (12-of-16) from the free throw line and the Blugolds shot 66.7% (6-of-9).

Up next

UW-Eau Claire travel to UW-Oshkosh on Saturday, Feb. 29 for the WIAC Championship game at 9 p.m. The winner of Saturday's game will earn the WIAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Pioneers will wait to learn if they receive one of the at large bids into the tournament with the NCAA Selection Show set for Monday, March 2 at 11:30 a.m.