Pioneers Upset Second-Ranked Calvin 78-56

ANGOLA, Ind. – At the first game of the St. Andrews Products Classic, the 24^th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (9-1) upset second-ranked Calvin (9-1) by a score of 78-56 inside the MTI Center in Angola, Indiana.

The Knights held a slim lead for much of the first half until a seven-point run helped the Pioneers move in front 25-23 with 1:45 remaining until the break. In the final minute of the half, senior Logan Pearson knocked down a pair of shots from inside the paint to help UW-Platteville lead 29-27 following the first 20 minutes of play.

A jumper by senior Ben Probst and a three-pointer from Pearson saw the Pioneers lead increase to seven right out of the break and another six-point run extended the lead to double digits at 42-31 with 14:56 to play. UW-Platteville led by at least nine for the remainder of the contest, and by as many as 22 after a three-point make by Pearson with 1:48 left to make the score 73-51. Freshman Seth Bunders scored the final basket of the game for a 78-56 win.

After going 0-for-4 from three in the first half, the Pioneers went 8-of-14 from deep in the final 20 minutes. Pearson led the way in the second half with 17 points, including a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. UW-Platteville shot over 50 percent from the field in both halves and finished 30-of-56 (53.6 percent) for the game.

Pearson tallied a game-high 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting while adding two rebounds and three assists. Three other Pioneers reached double figures in the win, led by 13 points from sophomore Max Love. Probst added 12 points while sophomore Joey Fuhremann posted 12 points off the bench on 5-of-5 shooting.

Probst and sophomore Miles Hettinger tied for the team lead in rebounds with seven, while junior Brady Olson led the team with four assists.

The Pioneers defense held Calvin to just 33.3 percent (20-of-60) shooting in the game, including 19.2 percent (5-of-26) from three-point range. Both marks were season-lows for the Knights, who entered play having shot over 50 percent from the floor in three straight contests.

UW-Platteville will play its second game at the St. Andrews Products Classic tomorrow afternoon when it faces 19^th-ranked Trine (9-1) at 2 p.m.