Pioneers hit big shots to turn back UD
Bo Richter and Charlie Lohoff hit back-to-back three-point baskets in the final minutes, leading UW-Platteville to a 66-61 victory over the University of Dubuque Friday in the first day of the Mississippi River Challenge.
Richter broke a 56-56 tie with his long-range shot from the top of the key with 1:17 remaining. After the Pioneers stopped the Spartans, Lohoff rattled home his three from the left-corner with 26 seconds to play. UD's Matt McDonald scored a layup with 17 ticks left, but then UWP's Jeff Skemp and Curt Hanson made two frees apiece for a 66-58 score. Shane Mangrich banked home a three-pointer in the last second for the Spartans.
UW-Platteville improved to 3-0, while Dubuque slipped to 2-2. Both teams conclude Mississippi River Challenge play Saturday, with the Pioneers facing Loras at 3 p.m., and the Spartans playing host Clarke at 8 p.m.
Richter led the Pioneers with 13 points, while Jeff Skemp had 12, Lohoff 11 and Mark Gossens 10. Skemp and Gossens each grabbed eight rebounds.
Nick Thomas had 14 points for the Spartans, while Tyler Daugherty had 11 points and eight rebounds. Mangrich totalled nine points, including a long three-point shot that tied the score at 56-56 with 1:41 to play.
The Pioneers led 38-29 at the half, but may have spent the first part of the second half wondering how the Spartans inbounded the ball, shot, rebounded and then scored all in the final nine-tenths of a second of the first period. Jonathan Moore's rebound basket closed the gap to nine at the break and gave UD some momentum heading into the locker room. The Spartans then went on a 15-2 run to start the second half, taking a 44-40 lead on Daugherty's jumper with 12:40 remaining.
UWP regained the lead at 45-44 on a pair of Mike Jamerson free throws and held the advantage until Mangrich's three knotted the score again at 56.
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