Pioneers Win Home Opener Against Carthage

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (2-1) pulled away in the second half to beat Carthage (2-1) in the home opener 85-72 on Wednesday night inside Williams Fieldhouse. In the win, senior Ben Probst reached 1,000 career points, becoming the 40th player in the program history to reach the plateau.

The Pioneers overcame a slow offensive start to the game to shoot 56.3 percent (18-of-32) across the first half. Carthage managed to keep pace for most of the half until back-to-back threes by Probst and senior Logan Pearson gave UW-Platteville a nine-point lead at 33-24 with 5:34 left until the break. Another six-point run to close the half increased the lead to 11 at 45-34 heading into the second.

The Firebirds used a 10-point run to quickly erase the deficit and the visitors trailed by three with 15:42 remaining. UW-Platteville kept the rally from getting any closer than three in the coming minutes and a 10-2 run pushed the advantage back to 11 at 68-57 with under nine to play. Carthage failed to get any closer than seven for the remainder of the game as the Pioneers won by 13 at 85-72.

Pearson posted a double-double with a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the way for the Pioneers. He went 9-of-17 from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Probst scored 16 points, the exact amount he needed to reach 1,000 career points. His five assists were a team high. Junior Miles Hettinger joined the duo Pearson and Probst in double figures with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting off the bench.

UW-Platteville shot 50.0 percent (32-of-64) from the floor in the win, with most of the success coming inside the paint. The Pioneers finished with a 48-28 advantage in points in the paint, including 28-12 in the first half. From the free throw line, UW-Platteville finished at 83.3 percent (15-of-18).

Carthage finished at 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field and 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from beyond the arc. Riley Brooks led three players in double figures with 18 points.

The Pioneers remain at home to take on North Central (Ill.) on Saturday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.