Pearson, Love Lead Pioneers To Alumni Day Win
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Senior Logan Pearson and junior Max Love combined for 55 points as the top-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s basketball team (13-1, 3-0 WIAC) increased its win streak to 12 games in an 79-64 home win over UW-Oshkosh (9-5, 0-3 WIAC) on Alumni Day inside Williams Fieldhouse Saturday night.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Senior Logan Pearson and junior Max Love combined for 55 points as the top-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (13-1, 3-0 WIAC) increased its win streak to 12 games in an 79-64 home win over UW-Oshkosh (9-5, 0-3 WIAC) on Alumni Day inside Williams Fieldhouse Saturday night.
Pearson dropped a game-high 31 points, including 21 points in the second half, on 10-of-17 shooting while adding seven rebounds. His third 30-points game of the season puts Pearson at 1852 career points, just 11 shy of tying the Pioneers all-time mark, currently held by Mike Ehler (1980-84).
Love poured on 24 points, 15 of which came in the first half when he knocked down three triples. He grabbed eight rebounds, tied for the team lead, and tied his career-high with five steals.
The Titans held a slim 19-16 advantage 10 minutes into the first half until the Pioneers rattled off 15 unanswered points to turn the deficit into a 31-19 lead. UW-Oshkosh was held scoreless for eight minutes of game time before a free throw make snapped the scoring drought. Junior Joey Fuhremann scored the final basket of the half for UW-Platteville, and the home team took a 34-22 lead into the break.
The Pioneers maintained the double-digit lead for the majority of the second half, with the Titans getting as close as nine on two separate occasions. UW-Oshkosh found greater offensive success in the half, led by 21 points from Joey LaChapell, but UW-Platteville shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from the floor across the final 20 minutes and went 13-of-15 from the free throw line to keep pace. The final seven points for the Pioneers came from the line, with sophomore Bristol Lewis scoring the final point from the stripe to close out the 79-64 win.
UW-Platteville shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the floor but finished at just 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from three-point range. Free throw shooting continued to be a strength, with the Pioneers shooting 77.8 percent (21-of-27) from the line.
UW-Oshkosh finished at 40.0 percent (20-of-50) for the game and 33.3 percent (8-of-24) from beyond the arc. The Titans also got the line often, shooting 66.7 percent (16-of-24). LaChappell was the team leader in scoring, finishing with 30 points, including a perfect 11-for-11 from the stripe.
The Pioneers posted a 34-18 advantage in points in the paint and turned the 12 Titans turnovers into 14 points. UW-Platteville found greater success in transition, outscoring UW-Oshkosh 10-1 in fast break points.
Up next will be another home matchup, this time against conference foe UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday night. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
*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.