Pioneers pull away from Simpson
November 28, 2009
UW-Platteville pulled away from Simpson College over the final 10 minutes to beat the Storm 75-58 Saturday in the Pioneer Ford/Frito Lay Thanksgiving Classic.
The Pioneers outscored the Storm 25-9 down the stretch, improving to 3-2 overall. UWP will face Pacific Lutheran Sunday at 3 p.m., while Simpson plays Ripon at 1 p.m. Ripon edged Pacific Lutheran 81-75 in Saturday's first game.
Leading 50-49, the Pioneers scored eight straight points, started by a Shane Kieler tip-in. Eric Wall drove for a layup, and Mike Shaw hit back-to-back jumpers for a 58-49 advantage. Simpson's Tim Dunlavy made ajump shot, but Kieler responded with two free throws, and after Rob Stallion made one of two, Curt Hanson drilled a three-point shot for a 13-point cushion with 4:06 to play.
Hanson scored 18 points, Shaw 13, and Wall 12, but the Pioneer bench also contributed 21 points.
"We really got a good lift off the bench with Rob playing a great game, Allen Ballweg having good minutes, and Matt Weik really stepped it up for us," Wall said. "I think that was the lift we needed to really turn the corner."
Stallion tied Wall for team rebounding honors with seven while scoring five points, making two steals, a blocked shot and drawing a huge offensive foul during the Pioneers' run. Ballweg made a three-point basket that broke a 47-47 tie, and Weik also had a block, two steals and four points. The Pioneers shot 49.2 percetn from the field and made 12-13 free throws to 0-1 for Simpson.
"Our offense is coming along, and we're learning every game, learning the reads," Wall said. "I think it will continue to get better."
Dunlavy led all scorers with 25 points for Simpson, who shot 61 percent while taking a 38-36 halftime lead. The Storm only managed 36 percent in the second half while falling to 1-4 overall.
Related Links