Pioneers Erase Double Digit Deficit In Comeback Win

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (17-3, 8-1 WIAC) overcame a double-digit second half deficit to win 76-73 over UW-Eau Claire (8-12, 1-8 WIAC) on Wednesday night inside Williams Fieldhouse.

Both offenses were in rhythm to start the game, and the score sat at 10-9 in favor of the Pioneers just over four minutes in. The Blugolds began to pull ahead in the coming minutes, using a couple of scoring runs to lead 32-22 with 8:36 left in the half. Neither team would score for nearly four minutes until freshman Bristol Lewis ended the drought with a steal and a layup to cut the UW-Platteville deficit down to eight. UW-Eau Claire scored the final two baskets of the half however and carried a 38-28 lead into the break.

The Blugolds led by as many as 16 out of halftime until a seven-point Pioneers run brought the game back within single digits with 12:58 to play. UW-Platteville continued to chip away at the UW-Eau Claire lead, and senior Ben Probst knocked down a three to make it 57-54 with 8:47 left. The Blugolds managed to extend the lead to seven again, but a nine-point Pioneers run, capped by a triple by Probst gave the home team a 69-67 lead with 2:33 remaining. UW-Eau Claire answered with a three-point play to regain the lead, but Lewis put the Pioneers in front for good with a long three in the final minute. The Pioneers defense held strong as junior Brady Olson forced a turnover with less than 10 seconds left, and senior Logan Pearson made both of his free throws to make it a four-point game. The Blugolds made a long three to cut the lead to one, but two more free throws and a steal by Pearson helped the Pioneers hang on for a three-point win.

Pearson finished with a team-high 27 points while shooting 8-of-20 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. The senior grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds and dished out five assists while tallying two steals.

Probst was second on the team with 15 points, 12 of which came in the second half. Lewis also reached double figures with 10 points off the bench.

Sophomore Miles Hettinger was second on the team with seven rebounds while also protecting the paint with three blocked shots.

UW-Platteville shot 49.0 percent (25-of-51) from the floor and 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from beyond the arc. The Pioneers were fantastic from the free throw line, going 21-of-22 (95.5 percent).

The Pioneers hit the road to play UW-River Falls on Saturday at 5 p.m.