Posted December 12, 2009
UW-La Crosse used strong three-point shooting and key free throws to hand UW-Platteville its first league loss, 84-70 Saturday in UW-L's Mitchell Hall.
With the win, the Eagles pulled a half-game ahead of the Pioneers in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings. UW-L is now 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the WIAC, while the Pioneers fell to 7-3, 2-1.
The Pioneers forged a 31-30 lead after a back-and-forth first half, thanks to Nick Allen's three-point basket at the buzzer.
With the score tied at 35, the Eagles' Trevor Stratton and Kurt Kincaid made back-to-back three-point baskets for a 41-35 lead. Leading 49-43, the Eagles went on an 11-2 run for a 60-45 advantage.
Cory Degner's free throws halted all Pioneer comeback attempts. UWP sliced the deficit to seven twice, at 62-55 and 68-61, but each time Degner made two free throws. The Pioneers' Shane Kieler hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds left, cutting the lead to 78-70, but Degner made two more to secure the win.
Kieler led the Pioneers with 16 points, while Curt Hanson and Eric Wall each had 14 and Allen 13.
Stratton topped the Eagles with 25 points, making 9-10 free throws, while Degner converted all 10 of his free shots and finished with 15 points, while Kincaid added 18.
The Eagles were 28-32 from the line, compared to 8-10 for the Pioneers. UW-L also knocked down 8-15 three-point attempts, while the Pioneers finished 4-18 (22 percent).
The Pioneers are off unttil Dec. 29-30, when they play two games in Phoenix, Ariz. UWP plays Lewis&Clark (Ore.) on the 29th and Westminster (Utah) the following night.
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