Pioneers Handed Second Straight Overtime Loss

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – For the second straight game, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (4-4, 0-2 WIAC) fell in overtime, losing 78-74 to UW-Stevens Point (5-3, 1-1 WIAC) on Saturday night.

The Pointers were hot on offense in the early goings of the first half, as they scored on each of their first eight possessions to lead 19-11 five minutes in. UW-Stevens Point increased the lead to 12 at 25-13 two minutes later before six straight points by UW-Platteville cut the deficit down to six. The Pioneers continued to chip away at the lead for the remainder of the first half, and the score sat at 48-43 in favor of the Pointers. UW-Stevens Point shot 72.0 percent (18-of-25) from the floor in the first half to hold the five-point advantage.

The Pioneers went on a 10-2 run to take a 53-50 lead three minutes into the second half. Sophomore Brady Olson knocked down three triples in the first four minutes of the half to help UW-Platteville gain control. Another Olson three and a layup by junior Logan Pearson pushed the Pioneers lead up to 10 at 66-56 with 8:12 on the clock, but the Pointers responded and later regained the lead with four minutes left. Junior Ben Probst tied the game at 74 with a three with 18 seconds remaining and the game entered overtime. Neither team made a shot from the field in the overtime period, but the Pointers converted four free throws and won 78-74.

Four Pioneers finished in double figures, with Pearson posting a team-high 18 points. Probst added 16 points, while Olson totaled 14, including 12 in the second half. Sophomore Carter Lancaster scored 11 and tied Pearson for the team lead in rebounds with seven. UW-Platteville finished shooting 47.6 percent (30-of-63) from the field and 44.0 percent (11-of-25) from beyond the arc.

UW-Stevens Point was led by 27 points by Jake Buchanan while AJ Makinen tallied 19 including 5-of-8 from deep. The Pointers cooled down after the hot-shooting first half but finished 46.7 percent (28-of-60) from the floor and 43.5 percent (10-of-23) from three. The visitors were perfect from the free-throw line, shooting 12-of-12.

The Pioneers will return on Tuesday, Dec. 6 when they host North Central (Ill.) at 7 p.m.