Pioneers Win Over Illinois Tech Saturday

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (4-2) won its second straight game with a 71-63 home win over Illinois Tech (2-4) on Saturday afternoon inside the Williams Fieldhouse.

Sophomore Brady Olson scored six early points to help the Pioneers take an early 15-5 lead on the Scarlet Hawks over the first six minutes of play. Just minutes later, junior Ben Probst scored 10 points in a two-minute stretch to extend the UW-Platteville lead to 29-11 with nine minutes left in the half. The Pioneers pushed the advantage up to a game-high 21 points on a jumper by Olson with 3:44 remaining in the first half, but Illinois Tech cut into the lead and the score sat at 37-23 heading into the break.

The Scarlet Hawks got back within single digits just minutes into the second half before a three from Olson pushed the game back to 11 at 41-30. The Pioneers maintained a double-digit advantage for the next 10 minutes until a pair of Illinois Tech free throws saw the lead dip down to nine. A six-point run by the Scarlet Hawks got the game back within four at 62-58 with 2:30 remaining but an and-one by senior Brad Nies extended the lead to seven. In the closing two minutes, Illinois Tech was able to get as close as six, but the Pioneers held off the rally attempt to win 71-63.

Olson led four Pioneers in double figures with a career-high 18 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting. Probst added 15 points while making three shots from beyond the arc while sophomore Julian Samuels added 12 off the bench. Nies pitched in with 10 points. Junior Logan Pearson and sophomore Carter Lancaster tied for the team lead with five rebounds while Probst dished out a team-high four assists. The Pioneers shot 53.2 percent (25-of-47) from the field and 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from deep.

Illinois Tech was led by Milos Dugalic, who scored 23 points along with 10 rebounds. Caden Gigstad (12 points) and Otis Reale (11 points) also finished in double figures. The Scarlet Hawks shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the floor and 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers continue the stretch of home games when they host No. 3 UW-Oshkosh in the WIAC opener on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

*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.