Men's Basketball

UW-Platteville Secures Men’s Basketball Title

WHITEWATER, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Platteville secured at least a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men’s basketball regular-season championship with a 78-62 victory over UW-Whitewater at Kachel Gymnasium on Feb. 19.
 
The regular-season crown is the second straight and 24th in program history for UW-Platteville (22-2 overall, 12-1 WIAC). UW-La Crosse (20-4, 11-2) can earn a piece of the title with a victory over UW-Stevens Point on Feb. 22, coupled with a loss by UW-Platteville against UW-River Falls.

UW-Platteville also secured the No. 1 seed for the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s) that begins Feb. 24. The Pioneers will face the lowest remaining seed after the first round in the semifinals on Feb. 26. UW-La Crosse is the No. 2 seed and will meet the highest remaining seed in the semifinals. UW-Eau Claire is the No. 3 seed, while UW-Stevens Point is the No. 5 seed. The championship contest will be conducted Feb. 28, with the winner receiving an automatic NCAA bid.

UW-Platteville trailed 51-49 with 10:13 remaining against UW-Whitewater, but scored 29 of the final 40  points in the contest for the victory. Miles Hettinger scored a team-high 17 points off the bench, including seven in the pivotal run to close the game.
 
Logan Pearson added 15 points to become the first player in program history – and eighth in WIAC archives – to reach 2,000 career points. Ben Probst chipped in 13 points and Aiden Wieczorek added 10.
Probst became the program’s leader in career three-point baskets made with 247.
 
Carter Capstran had a game-high 18 points for UW-Whitewater and Luke Bara added 10.
 
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