PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin men's basketball team opened its road matchup against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with an early offensive spark but was unable to keep pace with the Pioneers, falling 97-72 on Friday evening at Bo Ryan Court.
The Falcons showcased an efficient offensive performance behind strong individual efforts from
Ethan Ash and
Casey Verhagen, but UW-Platteville's perimeter shooting and ability to capitalize on turnovers proved difficult to overcome.
First Half
Concordia Wisconsin came out aggressively, establishing an early presence from beyond the arc. Ash connected on back-to-back three-pointers, both assisted by
Javanni Blackman, to give the Falcons a quick 6-0 advantage. After the Pioneers answered with a three-pointer and another basket to even the score at 6-6, Ash continued his strong start, knocking down another three to put Concordia back in front.
The early back-and-forth quickly shifted in UW-Platteville's favor as the Pioneers found their rhythm offensively. The home team began creating opportunities through its transition offense and perimeter shooting, putting pressure on the Falcons' defense. Despite efforts to stay within reach, Concordia struggled to contain the Pioneers' offensive attack, particularly from three-point range.
Ash continued to provide a spark for the Falcons, attacking the basket and knocking down shots from the perimeter. Verhagen also worked to keep the offense moving, while Blackman helped facilitate opportunities for his teammates. However, UW-Platteville's ability to convert turnovers into points allowed the Pioneers to build separation.
The Pioneers connected on nine three-pointers in the opening half and took advantage of 10 Concordia turnovers to generate 20 points. UW-Platteville carried a 51-37 advantage into the locker room.
Second Half
The Falcons looked to regain momentum coming out of halftime, but UW-Platteville maintained control with another productive offensive stretch. The Pioneers continued to find success from beyond the arc, stretching their lead and making it difficult for Concordia to put together a sustained comeback.
Verhagen took on a larger scoring role in the second half, consistently finding ways to attack the basket and create offense. Ash remained a reliable option, contributing both inside and outside as the Falcons continued to compete offensively. Concordia also received contributions from its supporting cast, with
Jack Waala and
Jaden Guyton adding baskets during the second half.
Despite the Falcons' efforts, the Pioneers continued to answer each scoring push. UW-Platteville's perimeter shooting remained a major difference-maker, as the home team finished with 19 three-pointers on the evening. The Pioneers also shared the basketball effectively, recording 27 assists while limiting their turnovers to just nine.
Concordia continued to battle through the final minutes, with Verhagen and Ash combining for the Falcons' final scoring contributions. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome as UW-Platteville secured the 97-72 victory.
Highlights
Ash led the Falcons with a game-high 28 points, shooting 11-of-14 from the field and connecting on four three-pointers. Verhagen followed with 22 points, adding three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Blackman contributed seven assists, five rebounds and four points while helping lead the Falcons' offensive attack. Eggemeyer pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and added two blocked shots, while Severin Hilt finished with five points, two assists and two steals.
Concordia Wisconsin finished shooting 50 percent from the field (27-of-54) and scored 34 points in the paint. The Falcons also recorded 12 assists and seven steals.
Up Next
The Falcons move to 1-1 on the season and will look to return to action at the Mike Turner College Classic hosted by Albion. The Falcons will face Albion on Friday, November 20 at 7 p.m. ET.
