Pioneers beat UWSP, grab #2 seed
February 21, 2009
Fourth-ranked UW-Platteville beat fifth-ranked UW-Stevens Point 55-52 Saturday and in the process locked up the second seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs.
The Pointers, who had already wrapped up the conference championship and the top seed, finished 14-2 in conference play, while the Pioneers and UW-Whitewater both finished 13-3. All three teams, ranked in the top five in the D3hoops.com poll, are 21-4 overall. Each of the season series were 1-1.
UW-Platteville earned the second seed based on a better record vs. the fourth-place team. The Pioneers were 2-0 against UW-Oshkosh, while the Warhawks were 1-1.
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| Curt Hanson dribbles out the final seconds Photo by Patti Mitch |
Tuesday's first-round matchups pit sixth-seeded UW-River Falls at third-seeded UW-Whitewater and fifth-seeded UW-Eau Claire at fourth-seeded UW-Oshkosh. The Pioneers will play host to the highest remaining seed Thursday at 7 p.m. on Bo Ryan Court. The lowest remaining seed will travel to UW-Stevens Point Thursday for the other semifinal. The WIAC championship is scheduled for Saturday at the highest-seeded team playing for the league's automatic bid into the NCAA III playoffs.
Saturday's matchup had the feeling of championship playoffs, as the teams battled back and forth on Bennett Court in front 2,109 Quandt Fieldhouse fans.
Jeff Skemp scored 20 points, and Curt Hanson made two free throws and a steal in the final seconds to lead the Pioneer win.
The Pointers led 26-15 before the Pioneers went on a 12-0 run. Bo Richter and Mike Shaw started the run with back-to-back three-point baskets, and Hanson, Skemp and Lohoff scored inside baskets. UWSP's Khalifa El-Amin's three-point basket ended the run and the first half, with the hosts ahead 29-27.
Nick Allen made one of two free throws, and Skemp scored twice to give the Pioneers a 32-29 lead to begin the second half. After the Pointers' Matt Moses tied the score with a three-pointer, Lohoff made one of two free throws and the Pioneers never trailed again although their largest lead was just five points at 44-39.
With the Pioneers leading 50-48, Lohoff grabbed a defensive rebound, was fouled and made one of two free throws with 21 seconds to play. Moses scored a layup with 15 seconds remaining, but Lohoff made both free throws four seconds later. After El-Amin scored on another layup, Hanson made two free throws with four seconds left. Hanson then stripped El-Amin of the ball, and the Pointers could not get off a final shot.
Skemp made 8-10 from the field and all four of his free throw attempts for his 20 points. Richter and Lohoff each added seven points.
Pete Rortvedt led UWSP with 11 points, and Moses added nine.
UW-Platteville playoff ticket sales policy will be announced Monday on the web site.
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