Pioneers Fall To Fourth-Ranked Keene State Saturday

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (3-1) dropped its first game of the season to fourth-ranked Keene State (2-1) 93-75 on day two of the Small College Basketball Classic in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

The Pioneers shot an efficient 46.7 percent (14-of-30) in the first half, but the Owls led 46-32 behind a 50.0 percent (18-of-36) shooting mark, including eight made threes. Senior Logan Pearson scored 13 points for UW-Platteville in the opening half, while junior Brady Olson added seven on 3-of-5 shooting.  Keene State was able to capitalize on nine Pioneers turnovers, turning them into 10 points.

UW-Platteville was able to get back within six at the 11:04 mark in the second half behind an 11-3 run, but Keene State scored four straight points to go back up 10. The Owls were able to maintain the double-digit lead for the remainder of the game to win 93-75. Pearson and sophomore Joey Fuhremann highlighted the second half for the Pioneers, scoring a combined 31 points, while freshman Bristol Lewis chipped in with eight.

Pearson finished with a season-high 31 points on 12-of-21 shooting while grabbing three rebounds in the contest. Fuhremann was a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor to finish with 17 points. He grabbed 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass, to record the double-double.

The Pioneers shot 44.1 percent (30-of-68) from the floor and 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from the beyond the arc. UW-Platteville put together a strong showing in the paint, finishing with 46 points, and outscored the Owls 20-10 in second chance points thanks to 12 offensive rebounds.

Senior Brad Nies was second on the team with seven rebounds, while Olson posted a team-high four assists.

The Pioneers will be back home next Saturday for a 5 p.m. non-conference tip-off against Central (Iowa).