Mon 27-Nov-2000

Huge rebounding edge lifts UW-SP to easy victory over Edgewood
By Jesse Horne
Journal staff

UW-Stevens Point's Rich Steif (45) breaks through the defense of Ryan Zander (4) and Royce Malkowski of Edgewood College during their non-conference game a tQuandt Gymnasium on Sunday. (Journal photo by Renee Eismueller)

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball team did not have much time to savor their win Saturday versus Marian College.

After a 14 point win against Marian, the Pointers faced Edgewood College of Madison on Sunday.

"This was a big test for us mentally," junior forward Rich Steif said. "We really had to shake out the aches and pains from last night."

Steif triggered a defensive assault as he hauled in 11 out of the team's 50 rebounds en route to a 82-64 victory over the Eagles.

The win improved the Pointers nonconfernce record to 5-0.

"(Edgewood) gave us gaps to get to the boards," Steif said. "I was fortunate to have the bounces go my way."

Joe Zuiker finished as the Pointers leading scorer with 17 points while Josh Iserloth also cracked double figures with 12 points.

"I just think we had the strength from our whole team to come out on top tonight," Pointer coach Jack Bennett said.

Contrary to the balanced scoring of the Pointers, Steve Williams represented a vast majority of Edgewood's offense as he finished as the game's leading scorer with 26 points.

The Pointers fell behind early 9-2 before Josh Iserloth drained a 12-foot jumper and Joe Zuiker made two inside buckets to trim the deficit to one.

After an Eagles foul, Iserloth hit two free throws and gave the Pointers their first led of the game at 10-9 with just under 14 minutes to play in the first half.

Brent Larson broke a long-standing 15-15 tie with a long 3-point basket with 9 minutes remaining in the half.

Joe Zuiker helped fuel a Pointer rally late in the half. He scored seven points of his 13 first-half points to give UW-SP a 37-28 lead at halftime.

The Pointers maintained their advantage early in the second half. After only two points in the first half, Kalonji Kadima scored seven quick points - including a three-point basket - and kept the Pointers on top by nine with 14 minutes to play.

With 10:45 remaining in the game Neal Krajnik intercepted an errant Edgewood pass. He then found Ron Nolting on the break-away for the easy lay-in to give UW-SP a 57-48 advantage.

With just under 10 minutes to play Nolting missed the second free throw on a one-and-one situation. Steif rebounded the ball and was subsequently fouled. He made his two free throws and the Pointer was increased to 60-48 The Pointers are back in action Thursday when they travel to Appleton to face Lawrence University.