BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The second-ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team (1-1) fell 86-66 to 16th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan (2-0) on Saturday night inside the Shirk Center at the Sikma Invite.

The two teams traded baskets in the early stages of the first half until Illinois Wesleyan pulled ahead in the closing minutes to take a 43-34 lead into the break. Senior Logan Pearson led the Pioneers in scoring in the half with 12 points, while senior Ben Probst added eight points.

The Titans got off to a fast start in the second half and steadily increased the lead until it sat at 68-42 with just over 10 minutes remaining. Illinois Wesleyan's offense shot 65.4 percent (17-of-26) in the second half, including 15-of-18 inside the arc.

UW-Platteville was unable to get any closer than 18 in the final 10 minutes as the Titans picked up the 86-66 win.

Pearson scored a game-high 21 points on 5-of-13 shooting and 10-of-12 from the free throw line. Probst was the other Pioneer to reach double figures with 10 points, while junior Aiden Wieczorek added seven points off the bench.

UW-Platteville shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) for the game, including 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from the three-point line. Illinois Wesleyan finished 55.7 percent (34-of-61) from the floor, but struggled from deep, shooting 26.7 percent (4-of-15).

Pearson, Wieczorek, and junior Joey Fuhremann tied for the team lead in rebounds with three, while Wieczorek and sophomore Max Lucey had two assists each to pace the team.

The Pioneers will return to the court on Wednesday, November 20 for the 2024-25 home opener at 7 p.m. against Carthage.