Every time UW-Platteville needed a big shot Saturday, Mark Gossens was there to hit it.
While that may not be unusual for the senior all-conference forward, the places he made the baskets from is usually foreign territory for him.
Gossens, who had 10 three-point baskets in his four-year career and no attempts this season, nailed three of four long-range bombs, including two in the final 4:05, leading UW-Platteville to a 81-73 win over Loras in the Mississippi River Challenge, hosted by Clarke College.
"It was just in our offense," Gossens said. "We were using the motion and getting open shots. It just happened tonight that I got a lot of open shots. It was a close game, and every shot counted. We were trying to pound it inside, but couldn't do that as well, so we had to hit our outside shots. They just went in for me."
With 29 points, Gossens topped his career high of 24, set exactly one year ago against the University of Dubuque.
"I don't know, this must be a good day," he said with a laugh.
Gossens scored 12 of those 29 points in the final 4:05, starting with a three-point shot that pushed the Pioneer advantage to 70-63. The Duhawks had just narrowed the gap to four points with Brian Centella's three-point basket, but then Gossens answered from the top of the lane as the shot clock was winding down..
Loras again whittled the lead down, this time to 72-69 on a pair of Centella free throws, but Gossens countered with another three-point shot from almost the identical spot, coming at the 1:51 mark. Jeff Skemp made two free throws with 1:05 to play, and Gossens made four more in the final 38 seconds to preserve the win.
The Pioneers remained undefeated at 4-0, while Loras fell to 2-1. The Duhawks had already defeated NCAA III tournament team UW-La Crosse, so Saturday's win was big, Gossens said.
"We knew they were very good, and we knew it would be a struggle," he said. "It gives us more confidence that we can play with anybody."
Both teams shot 57 percent from the field in the high intensity game. Skemp added 13 points, while Kyle Tetschlag made all six of his shots from the field for 12 points, and Charlie Lohoff added 10 points. Tetschlag made back-to-back hustle baskets in the second half when Loras came within 59-56. He stole the ball while the Duhawks were coming up court and scored on a layup, then scored on an offensive rebound, giving the Pioneers a 63-56 lead with 7:39 to play.
Kyle White paced Loras with 20 points, while Ricky Kohlze had 17 and Centella 10. The Duhawks trailed 34-28 at halftime, and never regained the lead in the second half. Loras came within three points five times, but never closer in the game's second period.
The Pioneers return to Williams Fieldhouse Saturday to face UW-Stout at 3 p.m. in their Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.
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