Pioneers Beat Titans For Third Straight Conference Win

Photo by: Steve Frommell, UW Oshkosh Athletics

OSHKOSH, Wis. – A second half scoring run propelled the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (12-2, 3-0 WIAC) to a third consecutive WIAC victory on Wednesday night against UW-Oshkosh (7-7, 0-3 WIAC) by a score of 77-66 inside the Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh.

The teams went back-and-forth for the first five minutes of the game until a seven-point run saw the Pioneers pull ahead 20-10 with just under 11 minutes left in the opening half. The Titans offense found some success in the coming minutes, but UW-Platteville answered each basket with threes from junior Brady Olson and sophomore Aiden Wieczorek to maintain the lead. Freshman Bristol Lewis knocked down a floater to increase the lead to 11 at 30-19, but UW-Oshkosh chipped away to trail 32-28 at the break.

The Pioneers held a slim advantage in the early stages of the second half until a three-point make pushed the Titans in front 49-48 with 10 minutes remaining in the game. Three-point makes by senior Ben Probst helped UW-Platteville regain the lead, and a hot shooting stretch, highlighted by a three-point play by senior Brad Nies, helped the Pioneers surge in front 63-53. UW-Platteville never allowed the Titans to get closer than nine in the final five minutes to win 77-66.

Four Pioneers finished in double figures, led by 14 points from both Probst and senior Logan Pearson. Nies posted 13 points, while Lewis added 11 points off the bench. UW-Platteville shot 43.3 percent (29-of-67) in the game and went 8-of-16 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc.

Sophomore Joey Fuhremann led the team in rebounds with 11 and was just short of a double-double as he scored nine points. Pearson also grabbed nine rebounds as the Pioneers outrebounded the Titans 45-36, including 12-5 on the offensive glass.

The Pioneers return home on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest against UW-La Crosse.