Pearson's Buzzer Beater Sends Pioneers To Season Opening Win
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Senior Logan Pearson knocked down a buzzer beater as the second-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s basketball team (1-0) erased a 10-point deficit in the final minutes to beat ninth-ranked Calvin (0-1) 82-81 on Friday night inside the Shirt Center at the Sikma Invite hosted by Illinois Wesleyan.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Senior Logan Pearson knocked down a buzzer beater as the second-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (1-0) erased a 10-point deficit in the final minutes to beat ninth-ranked Calvin (0-1) 82-81 on Friday night inside the Shirt Center at the Sikma Invite hosted by Illinois Wesleyan.
The game entered halftime tied at 28 as both teams were hindered by streaky shooting and offensive turnovers. Senior Ben Probst kept the Pioneers close throughout the half, scoring 11 points, including a pair of made threes in the final minute to help UW-Platteville draw even at 28.
In the second half, the Pioneers built up an eight-point lead with just over 12 minutes left, but the Knights chipped away and used a 15-point run to take a 73-63 lead with 4:40 remaining. Calvin increased its lead to 11 at 78-67 with less than two minutes left, but UW-Platteville worked the deficit down to one at 81-80 behind free throw makes and a couple of baskets by Pearson.
With 15 seconds left the Pioneers forced a jump ball and gained possession with a chance to go in front. Pearson drew a foul with three seconds left and went to the line but missed both free throws. As time ran out, Pearson managed to collect his own rebound off the miss and put up a shot from the corner that bounced around the rim and dropped home at the buzzer for a one-point Pioneers win at 82-81.
Pearson finished with a game-high 35 points, all of which came in the second half after a pair of early fouls limited him to just four minutes of playing time in the first half. The senior shot 12-of-16 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free throw line while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds.
Probst was second on the team with 16 points, while junior Joey Fuhremann pitched in with 11 points. The Pioneers shot 44.8 percent (26-of-58) from the floor in the win, including 48.5 percent (16-of-33) in the second half. UW-Platteville was strong from the line, going 22-of-28 (78.6 percent).
The Pioneers will take on 16th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan (1-0) tomorrow night on day two of the Sikma Invite after the Titans beat 24th-ranked Cal Lutheran earlier on Friday.
*As with every UW-Platteville win this year, the Platteville A&W will be offering a $3 Pioneer burger the day after the win and the Platteville Taco John's will be offering 10 tacos for $10 the day after each Pioneer win.