Pioneers Drop WIAC Opener In Overtime

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (4-3, 0-1 WIAC) fell 75-66 in overtime to No. 15 UW-Oshkosh (6-2, 1-0 WIAC) at home on Wednesday night inside the Williams Fieldhouse. The Pioneers led for much of the game, but a late rally sent the Titans to a conference-opening win.

The Pioneers took command early, breaking out to a 10-point lead eight minutes into the first half. Three-point shooting highlighted the scoring for UW-Platteville, as junior Logan Pearson and sophomores Carter Lancaster and Julian Samuels each connected on a triple to give the home team a 17-7 advantage. UW-Oshkosh cut the deficit down to three with 9:16 to play in the half, but a 7-0 Pioneers run, including five points from sophomore Brady Olson, put the lead back to 10. UW-Platteville led by as many as 12 in the closing minutes of the first, but the Titans got back within nine on a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to trail 33-24 at the break.

In second half, the Pioneers led hovered between nine to 12 points for the first six minutes as both defenses made scoring difficult. A seven-point run by UW-Platteville pushed the lead up to 15, as a three by Pearson and a pair of jumpers by Samuels forced a Titans timeout. UW-Oshkosh scored seven straight a couple minutes later to make it a five-point at 54-49 with just under six remaining. The Titans scored back-to-back buckets to cut the Pioneers lead down to three with 4:57 on the clock. The next basket wouldn't come until there was 2:21 left, as Lancaster knocked down a three to push the lead back to six. UW-Oshkosh tied the game with 46 seconds left, and the game later went to overtime even at 59.

The Titans went on a 9-2 run in overtime to take a seven-point lead at 70-63 with less than a minute remaining. The visitors wrapped up the game from the free throw line to win 75-66.

Pearson paced the Pioneers in scoring with 15 points while Olson added 12 points. Senior Brad Nies finished just shy of a double-double, scoring eight points while grabbing nine rebounds. UW-Platteville shot 39.4 percent (26-of-66) from the floor and 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from beyond the arc.

Eric Peterson scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Titans while Levi Borchert pitched in with a double-double of 14 points and 19 rebounds. Cole Booth (18 points) and Jonah Rindfleisch (10) also reached double figures. UW-Oshkosh shot 42.4 percent (28-of-66) overall and converted 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the free throw line.

The Pioneers host UW-Stevens Point to continue conference play on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.