News Release

STEVENS POINT, Wis. — After trailing nearly the entire game, it appeared for a moment that UW-Stevens Point’s 28-game home men’s basketball winning streak might survive UW-Platteville, but Pioneers’ freshman Charlie Lohoff hit a clutch three-pointer with 13 seconds left to lift his team to a 70-66 win Wednesday at the Quandt Fieldhouse.

UW-Platteville trailed 66-65 and gained a defensive rebound with 35 seconds left. The Pioneers ran the clock down before Lohoff’s clutch three-pointer two feet behind the arc on the right wing for just his second basket of the game. Following a timeout, the Pointers pushed the ball upcourt and Brian Bauer missed an open three-pointer from the left win. LeVon Crawford rebounded for the Pioneers and made two free throws with 0.8 seconds left for the final scoring.

It was the Pointers’ first home defeat since a 61-52 loss to UW-Superior on Feb. 21, 2004. UW-Stevens Point is now 52-5 at home over the past four seasons. The Pointers fell to 11-5 overall and 6-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, but remained in first place as UW-Oshkosh forced a three-way tie after beating UW-Whitewater in overtime. UW-Platteville is now 9-7 overall and 4-4 in the league.

There were few missed shots in the game, but those that hit the iron usually landed in the hands of a UW-Platteville player as the Pioneers held a commanding 34-15 advantage on the boards. In fact, the Pointers were limited to just two offensive rebounds the entire game, but stayed in the game by committing only five turnovers. UW-Platteville shot 52.2 percent from the field and UW-Stevens Point shot 50.0 percent.

Both teams opened the game on fire and the Pointers held a 17-13 lead with 13:20 left in the first half before a 17-0 Pioneers’ run that put them in front 30-17 with 7:05 remaining in the half. UW-Stevens Point closed to within 32-28 on a 9-0 run and trailed 42-38 at halftime.

The Pioneers maintained their lead most of the second half and even pushed it to 10 points at 58-48 with 9:28 remaining in the game. Trailing 62-56 with 6:32 left, the Pointers scored the next eight points as Pete Rortvedt hit a three-pointer with 4:34 left to cut the lead to 62-61 and Bauer added a three-point play with 3:06 left to regain the lead.

Sean Krause hit three of four free throws on the Pioneers next two possessions to put UW-Platteville back in front 65-64, but Jon Krull answered for the Pointers on an inside basket with 1:34 left. Krause missed a layup at the other end, but the Pointers missed a shot on their possession, setting up Lohoff’s heroics.

Krause led the Pioneers with 16 points and Jeff Skemp added 15 points. Bauer and Steve Hicklin each led UW-Stevens Point with 14 points.