Balanced Attack Sends Pioneers To Road Win

MENOMONIE, Wis. – A strong team effort propelled the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (13-9, 6-5 WIAC) to a 81-54 road win over UW-Stout (5-16, 1-10 WIAC) on Saturday afternoon inside Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Pioneers held a slim lead throughout the early goings of the first half until freshman Aiden Wieczorek and sophomore Julian Samuels scored ten points to make it 23-16 in favor of UW-Platteville. Samuels three started an eight-point Pioneers run, capped off by a three by freshman Max Love, to make it 28-16 with just under 10 minutes left in the half. Another eight unanswered increased the lead to 41-23 with 2:35 left, and the advantage reached 20 on a three-point play by junior Logan Pearson. UW-Stout made a three in the closing seconds of the half but trailed 47-30 at the break.

Junior Ben Probst made back-to-back threes early in the second half to start an eight-point run that pushed the lead to 57-36. The Pioneers offense continued its strong pace with three-point makes by Love and freshman Miles Hettinger, while Samuels and freshman Gavin Ralph each converted attempts from the free throw line. UW-Platteville continued to pull away down the stretch to pick up an 81-54 road win.

Samuels scored a team-high 14 points for UW-Platteville, while Love and Probst each tallied 11. Senior Brad Nies also reached double figures and tied Pearson and Hettinger for the team-lead with five rebounds. Wieczorek dished out a team-high four assists and Pearson was active on the defensive end, finishing with five steals and a blocked shot. The Pioneers shot 44.8 percent (26-of-58) from the floor and 34.5 (10-of-29) percent from deep. UW-Platteville was exceptional from the line, shooting 82.6 percent (19-of-23).

Aidan Shore led UW-Stout with 19 points, while Carson Moe finished with 11. Preston Briggs provided solid minutes off the bench with nine points and eight rebounds. The Blue Devils shot 41.2 percent (21-of-51) and 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers host UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday night for their final home game of the regular season. Tip-off is set for 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.