Pioneer Freshman Jake Manning Records Double Double in 70-52 Win Over Wisconsin Lutheran

More news about: UW-Platteville

University of Wisconsin-Platteville freshman Jake Manning recorded his first collegiate double double with 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Pioneers to a 70-52 win over Wisconsin Lutheran on Sunday afternoon in Platteville, Wisconsin.

The Pioneers (4-2) outscored the shorter Warriors by a 30 to 12 margin on points in the paint and outrebounded them by a 42 to 25 margin. Joining Manning in double figures was senior Brett Stangel, who was named to the all-tournament team, who had 19 points for his sixth-consecutive game in double digits along with Eric Gerber, who had 11 – nine of which came in the second half.

The Warriors (1-4) also had three in double figures including Alex Merbach, who had 12 points and seven rebounds to lead Wisconsin Lutheran. Merbach was named to the all-tournament team and he was joined in double figures by Nate Bauer and Russell Strutz, who each had 11.

After an early 5-0 deficit, the Pioneers took their first lead when Stangel hit his second 3 pointer of the first 20 minutes to put UW-Platteville in front 10-9. The game went back and forth for the remainder of the half until the Pioneers closed out the half on a 14-5 spurt. Stangel led the spurt with 10 of the 14 points.

The Warriors cut the Pioneer lead to eight, 53-45, with 10:50 to play but Manning went 1-for-2 on a pair of free throws with 7:37 to play that put the lead at double digits for the remainder of the contest. The rookie from Cedar Rapids had seven of the Pioneers final 12 points and six rebounds down the stretch.

With the win, the Pioneers will now turn to the rigors of the WIAC play when they host UW-River Falls on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Falcons ended the 2010-11 season for UW-Platteville in the WIAC Tournament semifinals and were picked to finish third in the 2011-12 preseason poll.