Love's Career-High Sends Pioneers To Last Second Win

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Sophomore Max Love scored a career-high 26 points, including the game-winning three in the final 10 seconds, as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (4-1) won 66-65 over Central (Iowa) (5-1) on Saturday afternoon from Bo Ryan Court.

The Pioneers led for much of a low scoring first half, but the Dutch tallied the four points in the final minute to take a 29-26 lead into the break. UW-Platteville led by as many as seven and used strong defense to force nine Central turnovers. Love led the way with nine points as the Pioneers shot just 35.5 percent (11-of-31) from the floor in the first 20 minutes.

Both offenses found more success in the second half, and the score sat even at 45 with 8:31 left to play. The Dutch went on a 16-5 run over the next four minutes to lead 61-50 before three-point makes by Love, junior Brady Olson, and senior Ben Probst cut the Pioneers deficit down to three at 62-59 with 2:26 on the clock. UW-Platteville kept the game within one possession as time ticked down and Love knocked down the go-ahead three from the top of the key to force a Central timeout. The Dutch's final shot attempt fell short as the Pioneers picked up the 66-65 win.

Love's 26 points came on 9-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Seventeen of those points came in the second half, and he was clutch from deep, going 3-of-4 in the final 20 minutes.

Probst and senior Logan Pearson joined Love in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. For the game, the Pioneers shot 41.0 percent (25-of-61) and 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from three. UW-Platteville was especially efficient in the second half, shooting 46.7 percent (14-of-30) from the floor and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from deep.

Sophomore Joey Fuhremann led the team with seven rebounds, while Probst and Olson shared the team lead in assists with three each.

The Pioneers will be at home on Wednesday, when they welcome Ripon for a 7 p.m. tip-off.