Pioneers Win in Season Opener Over Lawrence

SUPERIOR, Wis. – A huge second half run propelled the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team to an 82-71 win in the season opener against Lawrence on Friday evening at the Merrill Thompson Classic hosted by UW-Superior.

Junior Logan Pearson carried the Pioneers offense in the opening five minutes, totaling 10 of the first 13 UW-Platteville points. Lawrence took a four-point lead at 19-15 with just under twelve minutes to play in the first half, but a three by freshman Max Love and four more points from Pearson put the Pioneers back in front. UW-Platteville led by as many as six in the coming minutes, but the Vikings answered and held a 42-41 lead at halftime on a jumper with two seconds left.

With Lawrence up four early in the second half, the Pioneers put together a 17-point run take a 62-49 lead with 10 minutes left in the game. Sophomore Carter Lancaster scored six points on the run, while junior Jack Huml capped the scoring run with a layup. Love knocked down a trio of triples in the coming minutes, and another three by sophomore Brady Olson put the Pioneers up 19 with four minutes left. The Vikings got back within 11 in the closing minutes, but UW-Platteville picked up an 82-71 win in the season opener.

The Pioneers shot 48.4 percent from the floor (30-of-62) and 35.3 percent from deep (12-of-34). Pearson put together a game-high 27 points while shooting 10-of-15, while Love added 16 points off the bench in just 13 minutes while connecting on four threes. Lancaster finished as the third Pioneer in double figures, totaling 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Nicolas Manzanera led the Vikings with 10 points, while Adnan Sarancic added nine points and six points. Lawrence shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) and 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers will continue play at the Merrill Thompson Classic tomorrow when they play the winner of UW-Superior and Central College at 3 p.m. inside the Mertz Gymnasium.

*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 offing 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.