Pioneers go out with Class (of 2010)
Posted February 20, 2010
UW-Platteville scripted a perfect ending to the 2009-10 home season, beating UW-River Falls 85-61 Saturday on Bo Ryan Court.
Coach Jeff Gard started his senior class of Allan Ballweg, Andrew Brown, Connor Finley, Curt Hanson, and Mike Shaw, and all five scored in the Pioneer victory. UW-Platteville, 14-11 overall, clinched fifth place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 8-8 mark. The Pioneers will play at fourth-seeded UW-Stout Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the first round of the post-season tournament.
The Pioneers led 41-31 at the half, then opened the second period with an 18-2 run. Shaw hit back-to-back three-point baskets to ignite the huge rally. UWP never let up, maintaining at least a 21-point lead the rest of the game.
Hanson scored 24 points, becoming just the fifth Pioneer ever to reach 1,500 career points. Shaw scored 23 and moved into the top 20 all-time with 1,210 points. Hanson added eight assists and three steals, while Nick Allen scored 10 points.
Jake Voeltz scored 20 points to lead the Falcons, who end the year 9-16, 3-13.
The Pioneers and Blue Devils split their season series, with Stout claiming an 87-81 win in Menomonie Jan. 9, and Platteville winning 75-73 Feb. 13.
The two teams will meet for the third time in the 12-year history of the WIAC post-season tournament, with the Pioneers winning both of the previous meetings in overtime. UWP claimed the inaugural 1999 title with a 90-88 win and won a 2004 quarterfinal game 71-68. Both the previous meetings were in UWP's Williams Fieldhouse.
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