Probst Propels Pioneers To Elite Eight

Photo: Larry Radloff, d3photography.com.

ANGOLA, Ind. – Senior Ben Probst dialed up a season-high 27 points as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (26-4) beat Case Western Reserve (23-5) 95-75 to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division III Tournament on Friday evening inside the MTI Center in Angola, Indiana.

Case Western Reserve got out to an early six-point advantage, but the UW-Platteville responded with an 11-1 run to take its first lead of the game at 19-18 with 9:38 to play in the first half. Three-point makes by Probst and freshman Bristol Lewis helped the Pioneers move in front by six, but the Spartans answered with six straight to tie the game at 29 with two minutes until the break. Sophomore Miles Hettinger scored five points over the Pioneers next three possessions and sophomore Aiden Wieczorek knocked down a transition three at the buzzer as UW-Platteville led 37-32 at half.

After the Spartans cut the deficit to one right out of the break, Probst took over, scoring 14 points with four made threes across a three-minute span to make it 51-40 with 16:03 to play. A three-point play by sophomore Joey Fuhremann and a triple by Lewis increased the lead to 15, but CWRU got back within single digits behind a couple three-point makes. The three-point shot continued to work for the Pioneers, as Probst, Hettinger, and sophomore Max Love each made shots from beyond the arc to maintain the double-digit advantage. UW-Platteville continued to pull away down the stretch to win 95-75.

Probst scored a season-high 27 points with seven makes from deep to pace the Pioneers offense. 22 of his points came in the second half, and Probst set the new UW-Platteville single-season three-point record with 81, surpassing the previous record of 77. His seven made threes also set a UW-Platteville postseason record.

Senior Logan Pearson added 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Lewis (13) and Hettinger (12) each scored double-digits off the bench. The Pioneers shot 55.0 percent (33-of-60) for the game, including 59.4 percent (19-of-32) in just the second half. From deep, UW-Platteville finished at 53.6 percent (15-of-28).

UW-Platteville Head Coach Jeff Gard collected his 250th career win in the victory.

The Pioneers will advance to tomorrow's sectional final contest against host school Trine at 6:30 p.m. Central Time.

*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.