| 1/22/2009 9:38:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Technical difficulties
Two second-half technical fouls contribute to UW-Whitewater's WIAC loss to UW-Platteville
By Jeff Seisser
Union sports editor
PLATTEVILLE - Just when the UW-Whitewater men's basketball team was closing the gap in Wednesday's Division III showdown with UW-Platteville, the wheels came off.
After Matt Goodwin's 3-pointer cut the Warhawk deficit to 72-70 with just over 31/2 minutes remaining in Wednesday's Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference battle, Goodwin and UW-W coach Pat Miller were issued back-to-back technical fouls.
"I was told Matt got a technical for taunting the crowd, and I was told I was out of the (coaching) box," said Miller. "I've coached for 18 years and I've never seen a technical on a player for taunting the crowd."
Just how consequential were the technical fouls? Platteville's Mike Shaw made all four free throws, and the Pioneers (15-2, 7-1 WIAC) went on a 13-3 run to secure the WIAC victory over the Warhawks (14-3, 6-2) and take over sole possession of second place in the WIAC.
Stevens Point improved to 8-0 with an 80-60 win over Eau Claire.
"It's pretty important," said Miller. "When you have two Top 10 teams in the country and you have a technical on their bench that brought us back in the game, and multiple technicals (on us). That's how we're going to decide a game between two Top 10 teams."
Both teams entered Wednesday's game tied for second place in the WIAC with 6-1 marks. Platteville came in ranked No. 5 in the d3hoops.com poll, and Whitewater was No. 7.
A sell-out crowd of 2,316 got more than their money's worth as the game drummed up memories of past rivalry games between the two conference powerhouses. Both teams shot better than 53 percent and combined for only 22 turnovers.
"It was a typical hard-fought WIAC game," said Platteville coach Paul Combs. "It's a shame somebody had to lose.
"We took care of the ball: 21 assists to just 12 turnovers against a very athletic and stingy defense. That's the key with playing Whitewater because when you turn it over, they turn it into easy points," added Combs.
Platteville led 43-34 at the half, after shooting over 60 percent. "I thought for the entire game they were very efficient offensively. We had stretches where we OK defensively, but when we broke down they took advantage of us," said Miller of the Pioneers.
Whitewater played from behind all night, leading just twice midway through the first half.
Platteville's lead grew to as much as 11 when Nick Allen and Curt Hanson buried back-to-back 3-pointers, giving UW-P a 72-61 advantage with 5:04 left.
But the Pioneers lost some composure when Combs was whistled for at technical foul after Charlie Lohoff picked up his third personal foul.
Myles McKay, the WIAC's leading scorer who led UW-W with 22 points, made both technical free throws. McKay's charity tosses started Whitewater's comeback, a 9-0 run that culminated with Goodwin's 3 at the 3:32 mark.
"I thought they were getting tired, I thought we were in business," said Miller. "I'm really disappointed in myself for getting the technical."
Jeff Skemp, Platteville's 6-foot-10 senior center, made all 10 of his shots within a few feet of the basket, including a pair of crowd-pleasing dunks, to lead all scorers with 24 points.
"He was able to get deep and the times we brought help, they found the open man and knocked down shots," Miller said. "That's the risk you run with them; they've had games where they've shot it well from the 3, and games where they've struggled. Tonight, they hits some big ones."
Meanwhile, UW-P was able to limit the Warhawks' Kori Vernon to only seven shots.
"Our post defense for the most part was pretty solid," said Combs.
Vernon finished with 16 points, while the Hawks also got 14 points from Billy Kolinski and 11 each from Goodwin and Dustin Mitchell.
Hanson complimented Skemp with 21 points.
The Warhawks return home Saturday hosting UW-Superior (9-8, 2-6). The WIAC start will be at 1 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium.
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