FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville defeated the Methodist men's basketball team, 58-51, on Sunday afternoon at the March F. Riddle Center.
 
Jake Manning led UW-Platteville (8-3) with a game-high 19 points, and the Pioneers held the Monarchs (2-6) to 33.3 percent shooting (8-24) in the second half. Tabias Hilliard led MU with 14 points and was the lone Monarch to score in double figures.
 
The Monarchs raced out to an eight-point lead (14-6) by the 12:40 mark of the first half, but the Pioneers answered with a n 18-4 run that gave UW-Platteville a 24-18 lead with 7:05 on the clock. Cory Vaassen started the run with a layup and Manning scored six points during the stretch in which the Pioneers shot 9-of-10 from the field in taking the largest lead of the game for either team.
 
Methodist needed fewer than two minutes to get back into the game as MU tied the contest at 24-24 on a dunk by T.J. Gill with 5:58 left in the period and the Monarchs would carry a 32-30 lead into the break.
 
In the second half, a free throw by Jackson Whitley gave the Monarchs a 40-39 advantage at the 12:40 mark but UW-Platteville answered with another scoring burst. Wes Nimitz started an 11-2 surge with a three pointer on the ensuing possession and Manning capped the run with traditional three-point play with 6:09 to play that put the Pioneers up 50-42.
 
A three-point play by Hilliard and a jumper by Gill trimmed MU's deficit to three points (50-47) with 4:37 remaining, but the Pioneers were able to hold off MU down the stretch.
 
UW-Platteville shot 47.8 percent for the game (22-46) including 31.3 percent from long range (5-16). Conversely, MU shot 41.5 percent from the floor (22-53) and just 10.0 percent (1-10) from beyond the arc. The Pioneers also owned a 32-25 edge on the glass, and MU forced 15 turnovers while committing just 10.
 
Hilliard finished 6-of-13 from the floor and added three assists. Gill had eight points and four steals, and Desmond Parker, Chris Vinson and Brandon Monk all pulled down a team-best four rebounds.
 
Manning was an efficient 7-of-11 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 at the charity stripe to go with a game-high eight rebounds. Vaassen added 10 points and five boards, Matt Oestrich had nine points and Boston Johnson contributed four assists.
 
Methodist plays its final game of 2014 on Tuesday when it hosts Connecticut College at 4:00 pm.