Men's Basketball Pulls Off Historically Sweet Postseason Upset Of No. 2 Platteville

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Graduate Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) scored a team-high 26 points and No. 22 Wisconsin Lutheran College went to overtime to upset No. 2 UW-Platteville 75-73 on Saturday in a NCAA Tournament Second Round game at Williams Fieldhouse.

The Warriors (27-3), who won their school-record 27th game, advance to their first-ever Sweet 16 after knocking off their highest ranked opponent in program history.

Neither team was able to build a lead of more than two points through the first seven minutes of the game, as the lead exchanged hands seven times. A 10-0 run by the Pioneers erased a one-point deficit and gave them a 22-13 lead with 10:38 remaining in the first half. Four quick points from WLC brought them within five with eight minutes left. UWP built its lead back to nine points at halftime, 30-21. Wisconsin Lutheran struggled from three-point range in the opening half, making just one of its 10 attempts.

UW-Platteville posted its largest lead of the game of 13 points at 41-28 five minutes into the second half. Four different players contributed to a 15-0 scoring run for the Warriors, who jumped in front 43-41 with 10:44 left after holding the Pioneers scoreless for over five minutes. WLC fought through three ties and netted five straight points for a 54-49 advantage with seven minutes remaining. Graduate Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.) gave Wisconsin Lutheran its largest lead of the game at 61-55 following a jumper in the paint with 3:39 left. Two three-pointers, and a 1-for-2 trip to the line put UWP up 65-63 before Stoltz was fouled on the final three-point field goal attempt of regulation just before time expired. He made the first two to tie the game, then had to wait through a UW-Platteville timeout before coming back to shoot a third, which he missed to send the game to overtime deadlocked at 65-65.

The Pioneers hit a three on the opening possession of overtime and held a 69-67 lead with 2:12 left. A go-ahead three-pointer from senior AJ Vos (Lombard, Ill.) followed by another three from Stoltz put the Warriors up 73-69 with 0:55 seconds on the clock. Stoltz hit two free throws with 0:30 seconds remaining for a five-point lead at 75-70. UWP came within two points on a three-pointer with 0:16 seconds left, before WLC was able to inbound through pressure and junior Ja'Quell Chisom (Milwaukee, Wis.) was fouled with 0:08 seconds to play, Chisom missed the front end but UW-Platteville was unable to get off a potential game-tying shot as time expired. 

Stoltz moved into third on Wisconsin Lutheran's all-time scoring list following his team-high 26-point performance. He added six rebounds, four assists, and a team-high three steals. Broeckel finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high three blocks. Graduate Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.) tallied his second double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Goetz also tied for a game-high five assists. Vos chipped in nine points and six rebounds. The Warriors shot 45.3 percent (29-for-64) from the floor and finished at 40.7 percent from three-point range after making 10 of 17 attempts after halftime. 

Logan Pearson scored a game-high 29 points for the Pioneers (26-3), who shot 37.3 percent (25-for-67) for the game, including 11-for-35 (31.4 percent) from three-point range and 12-for-18 (66.7 percent) from the free throw line.

WLC advances to face No. 17 WashU (21-6) in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 14 at UW-La Crosse's Mitchell Hall. Tip-time is scheduled for 4 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com. The Bears defeated Franklin 83-54 on Saturday to punch their Sweet 16 ticket.