Pioneers Open Play At D3Hoops Classic With Win

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Junior Logan Pearson posted a career-high 35 points as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (7-5) defeated Concordia Moorhead (5-6) 81-65 in the Pioneers first game at the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Junior Ben Probst highlighted the fast start for the Pioneers, as he connected on a trio of threes to give UW-Platteville a quick 15-6 lead five minutes into the first half. The Pioneers extended the lead to 11 in the coming minutes before Concordia Moorhead cut the deficit down to six at 17-11 with 12:50 to play in the half. Pearson took over, scoring nine straight Pioneers points to increase the lead to 14 at 35-21. The Cobbers answered with 12 unanswered points to get back within two, but buckets by Probst and Pearson in the final minutes of the half sent UW-Platteville into halftime with a 42-35 lead.

Concordia Moorhead kept the game close coming out of the break and trailed 54-52 seven minutes into the second half. A 10-2 run for the Pioneers increased the lead back to double-digits and seven consecutive points by Pearson pushed the advantage up to 71-58 with under five minutes to play. UW-Platteville maintained the lead for the remainder of the game to win 81-65.

Pearson posted a career-high 35 points while shooting an impressive 14-of-18 from the field. He added a team-high eight rebounds along with three steals and a pair of blocks. Probst tallied 20 points, including five makes from beyond the arc to compliment Pearson's scoring. The Pioneers shot a season-best 56.4 percent (31-of-55) from the floor and 47.6 percent (10-of-21) from three. Sophomore Brady Olson dished out four assists to pace the team.

Four Cobbers finished in double figures, with Rowan Nelson posting a team-high 18 points. Dylan Inniger scored 13 off the bench to finish second on the team in scoring. Concordia Moorhead shot 51.0 percent (25-of-49) from the field but struggled from deep, connecting on just 29.4 percent (5-of-17).

The Pioneers will continue play at the D3hoops.com Classic tomorrow evening when they play Franklin & Marshall at 6 p.m. inside South Point Arena.

*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.