The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team advances to the WIAC Championship Game with a 66-56 win over UW-Platteville in the Conference Semifinal. The Warhawks overcame a 11-point deficit to pull away and send the Warhawks to the title game for the first time since 2023. 

The first half started defense, with only 19 total points scored in the first ten minutes. After 15-minutes, the Warhawks were ahead by just four-points, at 19-15. The Warhawks started the game 7-for-17 from the floor, while holding UW-Platteville to just 5-for-17. 

The Warhawks had the lead on their side for the beginning of the first half, but a 9-0 run by the Pioneers with just 2-minutes in the first put UWP up by five late in the half. The Warhawks were able to limit the margin heading into the locker room, but a buzzer-beater jumper gave UW-Platteville the 26-23 lead at the intermission.

After the break, the Pioneers extended their lead up to nine with help from the charity stripe. UW-Platteville made four free throw attempts in the first two minutes, while UW-Whitewater wasn't able to get a shot up with two turnovers. 

Isaac Verges (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) got the Warhawks back on the right track with a three-pointer, but the Pioneers answered back with an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the night with 12-minutes to go. 

Down by 11, the Warhawks answered with Kelton McEwen (Bartlett, Ill./St. Francis) hitting a crucial three to put the lead back to single-digits. Over the next three minutes, Kelton McEwen (Bartlett, Ill./St. Francis) led the Warhawks on a 12-5 run, scoring 10 of the points in the run. The

The Warhawks had the game back to just four, and McEwen was able to use his hot hand to bring the Pioneer defense off of Collin Madson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) for a play. Madson cut the lead to just a single point at 47-46.

Kelton McEwen (Bartlett, Ill./St. Francis) capped off the run with a step-back three from the logo to put the Warhawks back up for the first time in 18-minutes of gametime. The Warhawk run drew the timeout from Platteville to try and stop the gaining momentum. 

The Pioneers briefly took the lead back, but a and-one layup from Tyshawn Teague-Johnson (Beloit, Wis./Turner) kept the Warhawks momentum going. The Pioneers closed the gap back to just a single point, but Collin Madson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) drained another corner three to put the Warhawks up by four. 

The Warhawks held onto the lead the rest of the way, sealing their spot in the title game with a fast-break dunk by Tyshawn Teague-Johnson (Beloit, Wis./Turner) to put the Warhawks up by nine.

Collin Madson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) led the Warhawks with 23-points, making three threes. Kelton McEwen (Bartlett, Ill./St. Francis) matched the three threes, scoring 16 total points. 

Richie Warren (Racine, Wis./Park) led the Warhawks on the glass with seven rebounds. Warren added seven points and a block to his stat line on the night. The Warhawks dominated the glass, outrebounding UW-Platteville 20-26, including a 12-6 advantage on the offensive glass.  

The Warhawks shot 67% from the three in the second half alone (6-for-9) during the double-digit comeback. UWW finish 44% from the floor (21-for-48) and 41% from three (9-for-22). UW-Platteville shot just 37% from the floor (18-for-49) and 29% from three (6-for-21).

The Warhawks will host the #5 Seed UW-La Crosse on Saturday in the WIAC Championship Game. Tip-off is set for 3 PM in Kachel Gym.