Pioneers Fall In Final Regular Season Contest

WHITEWATER, Wis. – In the final game of the regular season, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (14-11, 7-7 WIAC) fell 82-62 (18-7, 9-5 WIAC) on the road to UW-Whitewater on Wednesday night in the Williams Center.

The Warhawks took an eight-point lead in the first five minutes of the opening half, but junior Logan Pearson scored the next five points to cut the deficit down to 12-9. UW-Whitewater extended the advantage up to 10 midway through the half, but the Pioneers got four more from Pearson and a layup by freshman Aiden Wieczorek to keep the game close. UW-Platteville got as close as four in the closing minutes of the half, but the Warhawks increased their lead back to 10 late. A pair of layups by sophomore Julian Samuels made the score 43-35 at halftime.

Baskets by Pearson and Samuels out of the break brought UW-Platteville back within four, but UW-Whitewater quickly increased the lead to nine at 50-41. The Warhawks led reached double digits a couple minutes later and an eight-point run made it 67-50 with just over eight minutes left. The Pioneers were unable to cut into the deficit in the final minutes, as the Warhawks won 82-62.

Pearson scored a team-high 17 points to pace UW-Platteville, while sophomore Carter Lancaster and senior Brad Nies each finished with eight. Nies and freshman Max Love tied for the team lead in rebounds with five. The Pioneers shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the floor and 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from the free throw line.

Trevon Chislom led UW-Whitewater with 22 points while Miles Barnstable finished with 18 points and a team-high five rebounds. The Warhawks shot 52.6 percent (30-of-57) from the field and 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from beyond the arc.

The Pioneers will travel to UW-Eau Claire for the opening round of the WIAC Tournament next Monday, February 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.