Pioneers Coast To Second Straight Conference Win

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – For the second straight game, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (9-6, 2-2 WIAC) used a strong defensive performance to win 74-58 over UW-Stout (4-9, 1-3 WIAC) on Saturday inside on Bo Ryan Court.

Both offenses traded points in the early goings, and the score sat tied at 12 with just under 12 minutes to play in the first half. A six-point run put the Pioneers up 16-10 two minutes later with sophomore Julian Samuels starting the run with a jumper in the paint. Samuels put together a strong first half for UW-Platteville, as he tallied 12 points to lead the team. With 3:26 remaining in the half, a layup by junior Logan Pearson pushed the Pioneers advantage to 10 at 32-22. Pearson powered the offense in the final five minutes of the half, scoring 10 points and the Pioneers led 38-28 at the break.

In the second half, UW-Platteville used a 14-4 run to extend the lead to 20 at 52-32 with 13:43 remaining. The lead continued to grow, and it reached a game-high 29 with 8:45 left on a layup by Samuels. Pearson was the primary scoring threat for the Pioneers, tallying 14 points in the second half while making all six of his attempts from the free throw line. The Blue Devils went on a seven-point scoring run to close the game, but the Pioneers picked up a 74-58 win.

Pearson scored a game-high 24 points while adding four rebounds and three assists. Samuels was the other Pioneer to reach double figures, scoring 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Freshman Aiden Wieczorek totaled eight points to lead the bench unit. Freshman Miles Hettinger grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and the Pioneers outrebounded UW-Stout 49-33 including 17-7 on the offensive glass. UW-Platteville shot 38.5 percent (25-of-65) in the game and went 19-of-22 (86.4 percent) from the free throw line.

Brody Fox led the way for the Blue Devils, scoring 17 points, 15 of which came in the first half. George Scharlau totaled nine points and led the team with eight rebounds. UW-Stout shot 38.6 percent (22-of-57) from the floor and 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from deep.

The Pioneers travel to UW-Eau Claire for a conference matchup on Wednesday, January 11. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.