The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team picked up its second straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference road win behind a school record-setting performance Wednesday night in an 88-80 victory at UW-Platteville.
Senior forward Melvin Brown Jr. broke the program's single-game scoring record, totaling 47 points on 18-of-26 shooting, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range, and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. He added 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
Scotty Tyler previously held the record on a 45-point performance against Ripon on Dec. 21, 2016, at Kachel Gymnasium.
Senior guard Andre Brown recorded 10 points and three rebounds, and senior guard David Sachs registered eight points, five rebounds and two assists. UW-Whitewater shot 52.6 percent from the floor and 21-of-29 (72.4 percent) from the free-throw line as a team.
The Warhawks shot 56.7 percent in the first half, but the Pioneers took advantage of 11 points off six UW-W turnovers, and the game was tied at 40-40 after the first 20 minutes.
Brown Jr. shot 9-of-12 in the half, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. UW-Whitewater scored the first four points of the contest and led by as many as four, but UW-Platteville led for a large portion of the period thanks to hitting seven 3-pointers.
The Warhawks scored on three of their final four possessions in the half to tie the game.
UW-Whitewater took a seven-point lead seven minutes into the second half following a 9-0 run that included a 3-pointer by senior guard Dalton Menke and was capped by a layup from senior guard Mitchell Pfeifer.
The Warhawks took their largest lead at 59-51 with 11:44 on the clock, but the Pioneers chipped away and tied the game at 63-63 with 8:44 remaining.
The two teams traded the lead over the next six minutes before Brown Jr. put UW-Whitewater ahead for good on a free throw with 2:52 left. Menke drilled a 3-pointer on the next possession to increase the lead to four, and the Warhawks hit 10-of-14 free throws over the final 1:54 of regulation to preserve the win.
UW-Whitewater continues WIAC play Saturday by hosting UW-La Crosse on Alumni Day at Kachel Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.