Pioneers down UW-River Falls
January 31, 2009
UW-Platteville shot 72 percent in the second half, and the fourth-ranked Pioneers beat UW-River Falls 72-51 Saturday on Bo Ryan Court.
The Pioneers, who led 30-20 at the break, made 13-18 from the floor in the final 20 minutes to pull away from the Falcons. The Pioneers are now 18-2 overall and 9-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Falcons fell to 9-10, 3-7.
"We came with a more positive attitude, and came better ready to play," said senior Bo Richter. "Our experience came through again. We just had to slow down and let the game come to us."
Jeff Skemp scored 26 points, surpassing 20 points for the 10th time this season. The all-American made 10-13 from the field and 6-7 from the line. He became the 13th player in Pioneer history to surpass 1,300 career points. (He now has 1,309).
Charlie Lohoff scored 17 points for the second straight game, including back-to-back three-point baskets after the Falcons cut the lead to 38-33. Richter scored an inside layup, and Reid Gibbs made one of two free throws, finishing a 9-2 run.
After UWRF's Danny Johnson brought his team within 59-48 on a jumper with 5:40 to play, the Pioneers held the visitors without a field goal the rest of the game. The Falcons managed just 38.6 percent shooting against the conference's number one defense.
"They're a very good team, very quick and well-coached," Richter said. "We've been doing a good job the last few games of shutting people down. Charlie did a a good job on (Jontae) Koonkaew in the second half."
Koonkaew and Wade Guerin each scored 12 points, and Colin Utke had 10 for the Falcons.
Lohoff's three-pointers were the only long-range baskets for UWP, who outscored the Falcons 40-16 in the paint. The Pioneers, who had made three-point baskets in 77 straight games, were 0-4 in the first half before Lohoff extended that streak to 78.
The Pioneers have their second-to-last home game Wednesday against UW-La Crosse at 7 p.m.
"I realize and think about it that sometimes that we have five (regular season) games left, and I play about 15-20 minutes a night," Richter said. "So that's about an hour, an hour and a half left of basketball in my career, so I want to do everything possible to help the team win. Charlie, Tetsch (Kyle Tetschlag) and Jeff realize that too."
Saturday was also Alumni Day, and at halftime, the University saluted the 50th anniversary of the back-to-back 1958-59 conference champions, and the 10th anniversary of the two-time NCAA III national champions of 1998-99.
"To see them come back is great," Richter said. "It gives extra energy and gives a special feeling in the fieldhouse."
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