UW-Platteville scored 17 of the first 18 second-half points, enabling the Pioneers to beat Carthage 74-48 Monday in the first round of the St. Norbert College Nicolet Bank Holiday Tournament in DePere.
Sophomore Nick Allen scored a career-high 17 points, including the Pioneers' first seven of the second half, to lead the top-ranked team in NCAA III. Jeff Skemp added 16 points, Curt Hanson 14 and Mike Shaw 10 for UWP, which improved to 11-0 overall.
The Pioneers led 29-26 at the half, then went on the 17-1 run to open the second half. Carthage, who came into the game 6-2 and ranked 40th in the D3hoops.com poll, never came closer than 16 the rest of the night.
Coach Paul Combs' team, the nation's top-shooting squad, made 54.2 percent of its shots, including 68.2 (15-22) in the second period. The Red Men were held to 28.6 percent from the field and only Steve Djurickovic reached double figures. The second-leading scorer in NCAA Division III, Djurickovic was held to 7-18 from the field for a season-low 23 points, nine below his average. The Pioneers also kept the wraps on Sean Findley, who came into the game averaging 18.1 ppg but finished with two points on 1-7 shooting.
Allen opened the second half with a three-point basket and a layup, extending the Pioneers' lead to 34-26. After Djurickovic made one of two free shots, the Pioneers scored 12 straight. Allen had another layup; Skemp made three of four free throws; Allen and Hanson drilled back-to-back three-pointers; and Hanson finished the run with a free throw. UWP led by as many as 30 at 74-44.
The Pioneers will face host St. Norbert College Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the championship game. The Green Knights beat the St. Scholastica 70-42 in the second semifinal Monday.
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