The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men’s basketball team achieved their fifth WIAC win of the season on Jan. 21 against the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds,79-66.
The Pioneers began the game with a 28-6 lead just ten minutes into the first half. However, the Blugolds rallied together to cut the lead to 11 by halftime, 40-29.
As the second half began, the Pioneers saw their 11-point advantage slip away quickly when the Blugolds crept within one to make it 44-43.
“It is college athletics. You have to expect them to make a little run, start hitting some three-point shots, but our defense held strong in the end,” senior forward Jake Manning said.
A few three-point baskets by freshman guard Trey Siegel, along with combined efforts of Manning and senior guard Jim Stocki, allowed the Pioneers to gain their advantage back and defeat the Blugolds 79-66.
Manning led all scorers with 21 points, going 8-for-12 from the field with five rebounds. Junior guard Boston Johnson scored nine points with two steals, while leading the team with five assists. Stocki went 4-for-6 from the field, and 6-for-7 from the free throw line to total 16 points.
“We did a good job of moving the ball to get open shots and working inside-out on offense. But we need to clean up our defensive rotations and keep the ball out of the lane,” Stocki said.
This game was not your ordinary Wednesday night game for the Pioneers; Coach Jeff Gard and his players participated in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers Awareness Week. This collaborative effort of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society brings together more than 4,000 high school and college basketball coaches to swap their dress shoes for sneakers with their usual game attire.
The Pioneers ditched their uniforms for suits and sneakers, earlier in the week, to create a promotional video encouraging students and fans to dress for the occasion and support the fight against cancer.
Coach Jeff Gard said, “Shows what Platteville is really all about. We are one great big family in this community.”
Gard and the Pioneers have been participating in this event for several years and he compared the experience of fundraising money to the way his players are on the court.
“That’s what it’s all about, protecting each other. It’s the same thing on the floor; everybody has to have everybody’s back. I think it’s a sign of a great community in Platteville,” Gard said.
UW-Platteville raised more than $900 for Coaches vs. Cancer through donations and auctioned items, including an autographed basketball and tickets to Platteville’s Dustin Lynch concert in April.
The Pioneers played the Warhawks of UW-Whitewater last night, Jan. 28, with the outcome undetermined before publication.