Pioneers Win Tight Contest Against Eagles Saturday

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The 16^th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (13-2, 4-0 WIAC) battled back-and-forth in a 68-64 win over UW-La Crosse (8-7, 2-2 WIAC) on Saturday night inside Williams Fieldhouse.

Neither team led by more than six points in a first half that featured seven lead changes and five ties. Senior Ben Probst highlighted the scoring for the Pioneers with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting and three made threes as UW-Platteville shot 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the floor in the half. At the break, UW-La Crosse held a one-point, 38-37 lead after a turnaround jumper by senior Logan Pearson helped the Pioneers cut the deficit down to one in the final minute.

UW-Platteville took the lead to begin the half on baskets by sophomore Max Love and Pearson, but the game quickly flipped in favor of the Eagles following a four-point run. The two teams would trade baskets for the next several minutes until a jumper by Pearson gave the Pioneers a four-point lead with just over three minutes left. UW-La Crosse cut the game to one with a three, but Pearson answered with a three of his own. Junior Brady Olson closed out the win with two free throw makes as the Pioneers won 68-64.

Probst finished with a game-high 23 points, while Pearson and Love joined him in double figures. Pearson totaled 17 points, 11 of which came in the second half, with Love reaching 13 points.

The Pioneers shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) for the game, including 35.0 percent (7-of-20) from beyond the arc. UW-Platteville was nearly perfect from the line, going 9-of-10.

Sophomore Joey Fuhremann grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds with Pearson filling out the stat sheet with seven boards and three assists.

The Pioneers will take on ninth-ranked UW-Whitewater on the road next Wednesday night at 7 p.m.