Pioneers top Concordia Wisconsin in NCAA DIII playoffs

Click here for ticket information for Saturday's second round game hosted by UW-Platteville.

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball program (23-4) ranked No. 8 on the D3hoops.com poll, defeated Concordia (Wis.) (19-10) 86-74 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Bo Ryan Court. Seeking redemption from last season's sudden exit from the tournament after a 78-76 loss in overtime to Capital in the first round, Friday's victory over the Falcons advances the Pioneers to a battle between two Top 10 teams when UW-Platteville meets No. 4 St. Thomas at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 7 on Bo Ryan Court.

Remarks from the Pioneers

During the post-game interview, head coach Jeff Gard said, "I'm proud of our guys for fighting through the mental adversity. Anytime playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, there's always that toughness about it and back against the wall nervousness. So I was proud of them for fighting through it. I'm proud of the guys on how they stuck together and continued to do what we need to do in order to win games.

Referring to sophomores Blake McCann and Justin Fox's big night off the bench, Gard said, "Justin and Blake's mentality all year long has been no matter what their role, it doesn't matter if you're the one coming out of the tunnel or not during introductions, but it's that you put your best foot forward when you get out there." Gard continued, "That's what makes us dangerous. You never know who's going to step up, if one of our guys has an off night."

When asked about the intensity of the game, senior Carter Voelker said, "Tournament intensity is just a little different and having played all season in the WIAC with the physicality of the teams, Concordia really brought it tonight."

Leading up to tomorrow's second round game, Gard said, "If you thought tonight was physical, wait until tomorrow night, that is an unbelievable team in St. Thomas. We know that we have to be a lot better that we were tonight to have an opportunity. But the thing I love about this group is that there is a refuse to lose mentality in them."

First half

• The Pioneers trailed 9-14 with 13:11 remaining in the half and went on a 21-5 run to take a 30-19 lead with 6:15 remaining in the half.
• The Pioneers led 40-29 going into halftime.
• Junior Quentin Shields had 13 points on 71.4% (5-of-7) from the field including 2-of-4 from deep. Shields added three rebounds and an assist.
•  Fox had 10 first half points on 83.3% (5-of-6) from the field. Fox added two rebounds and an assist.
• McCann had eight points on just four shots and went 2-of-2 from deep. McCann added two rebounds and an assist.
• The Pioneers had 13 assists compared to the Falcons' six.
• The Pioneers shot 54.8% (17-of-31) from the field and 35.7% (5-of-14) from three-point range and the Falcons shot 41.4% (12-of-29) from the field and 30% (3-of-10) on three-point attempts.
• The Pioneers shot 25% (1-of-4) from the free throw line and Concordia (Wis.) shot 33.3% (2-of-6) from the free throw line.

Second half

• Voelker had 11 second half points on 66.6% (4-of-6) shooting from the field and added five rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
• Fox had eight second half points and didn't miss from the field (4-of-4). Fox added four rebounds in the half.
• McCann had seven points and three rebounds in the second half.
• The Pioneers shot 51.6% (16-of-31) from the field and 30% (3-of-10) from three-point range while Concordia (Wis.) shot 53.1% (17-of-32) from the field and 46.2% (6-of-13) on three-pointers
• The Pioneers shot 73.3% (11-of-15) from the free throw line while Concordia (Wis.) shot 75% (3-of-4).

Notables 

• UW-Platteville improves to 23-4 overall.
• This season's NCAA DIII tournament berth marks the 13^th tournament appearance in program history.
• The senior and junior classes on the Pioneers' squad are now 3-2 in NCAA Championship games with three consecutive season trips to the tournament.
• Fox led the Pioneers with 18 points and shot 90% from the field (9-of-10). Fox added six rebounds and two assists.
• Shields finished with 17 points, three rebounds and two assists.
• McCann had 15 points on 66.6% (6-of-9) from the field including 3-of-5 from deep. McCann added five rebounds.
• Sophomore Kyle Tuma finished with 11 points and led the Pioneers with eight rebounds.
• Voelker finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and led the Pioneers with seven assists.
• The Pioneers out-rebounded the Falcons 36-20.
• UW-Platteville shot 53.2% (33-of-62) from the field and 33.3% (8-of-24) from beyond the three-point arc. Concordia (Wis.) shot 47.5% (29-of-61) from the field and 39.1% (9-of-23) from three-point territory.
• The Pioneers shot 63.2% (12-of-19) from the free throw line and the Falcons shot 50% (5-of-10).

Up Next

The two winning teams of the first round games from the four-team pool at Platteville that also included No. 22 St. Norbert will meet Saturday night on Bo Ryan Court. The contest will be the lone game in the 16 pairings around the country that features two Top 10 teams. The Tommies defeated the Green Knights 67-60 in game one to advance to the second round. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. The Ticket Window will open at 5:30 p.m. with gates set to open at 6:30 p.m.

For more info on Saturday's second round game click here.