Platteville, Wis. - The Illinois Tech men's basketball team had a tough assignment Tuesday night: try and knock off the undefeated University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers on their home court. The task proved to be too tough, as the Scarlet Hawks fell victim to the Pioneers 72-51. The Hawks dropped to 1-4 on the season. The Pioneers improved to 6-0.

How It Happened:

First Half

• The Pioneers started the game with a 7-0 run. 
• Calvin Schmitz and Milos Dugalic hit three-pointers to help the Hawks complete a 10-2 response to take the lead at 10-9 five minutes into the first half.
• The teams traded baskets over the next seven minutes before the Pioneers' Kyle Tuma hit a three-pointer to extend their lead to 23-18 with 7:41 remaining.
• The Pioneers added on seven straight points to boost their lead to 30-18 with five minutes remaining.
• Otis Reale hit a three-pointer with 59 seconds remaining, part of an 8-0 run that brought the Hawks within four points at 30-26.
• The Pioneers responded with a three-pointer of their own, along with a couple free throws to close out the half with a 35-26 lead.

Second Half

• Tuma completed a layup for the Pioneers at the 15:50 mark to extend their lead to twelve, 43-31.
• A Reale jumper and a Caden Gigstad three-pointer cut the Hawks deficit to 43-36 with 14:31 to play.
• Another Gigstad three-pointer pulled the Hawks within six points at 48-42 with 11:23 remaining.
• The Pioneers used a 15-2 run over the next six minutes to build a 63-44 lead.
• The Hawks would get no closer than 18 points the rest of the way, as the Pioneers pulled away for the 72-51 victory.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Gigstad had 15 points on 3-6 shooting from three-point range.
• Reale had 14 points and four rebounds.
• Dugalic added eight points with 11 rebounds.

Pioneers Watch

• Tuma finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
• Quentin Shields added 11 points with six rebounds and two steals.

Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks shot 50% from three-point range on 10-20 shooting. The Pioneers finished at 46.7% from three (7-15). 
• The Hawks committed 16 fouls in the contest; the Pioneers had 14 fouls.
• Reale was the minutes leader for the Hawks, playing 35 minutes. Blake McCann led the Pioneers in playing time with 34 minutes.

Up Next

• The Scarlet Hawks travel 24 blocks south to face the University of Chicago Maroons at 3pm at the Gerald Ratner Athletic Center.