Wed, Feb 20, 2002

Pointers advance in WIAC tournament
BY Jesse Horne of the Stevens Point Journal

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Men's Basketball team faced a difficult test in its first-round game of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament in Platteville.

The Pointers staved off several offensive attacks by the Pioneers to pull out a 72-57 victory and earn a spot in Thursday's semifinals against third-seeded Whitewater.

The Warhawks, who finished in a three-way tie for the regular-season conference title with Oshkosh and UW-SP, defeated Stout 85-77 in their quarterfinal. River Falls and Oshkosh will match up in the other conference semifinal.

With two wins still separating the Pointers from an automatic bid, Bennett is convinced his team already deserves a spot in the NCAA Division III national tournament.

"In my estimation, I think we've earned our way into the playoffs," he said. "Last year, we were told that if we had 20 wins or were better than 10-6 in the league, they would take notice. Well, we've done all that."

UW-SP (21-5) did not seal the victory against Platteville until late in the second half. With less than four minutes remaining in the second half, Will Carter drilled a 3-pointer for Platteville (14-12) to cut the UW-SP lead to seven points.

On the Pointers' next possession, UW-SP's Ron Nolting failed to connect on a shot from long range, but Justin Mallett hauled in the rebound and passed to an open Neal Krajnik, who connected on a 3-pointer.

The basket, with 3:25 to play, put the Pointers up by 10 and they never looked back. Krajnik finished with a career-high 21 points and five rebounds, along with six steals.

"If there were a game ball to be given out tonight, it would go to Neal Krajnik," Bennett said.

"I don't just mean it with the points.  He was all over the floor."

Other Pointers in double figures were Josh Iserloth with 15, Jason Kalsow with 12 and Kalonji Kadima with 11.

UW-SP preserved the lead late in the game in part to successful shooting at the free throw line. The Pointers knocked down 17 out of 20 shots from the line in the second half.

Ben Schambow scored 16 points for Platteville.

UW-Platteville 30 27 - 57
UW-Stevens Point 36 36 - 72

PLATTEVILLE (57) - Stangel 4-11 0-0 10, Selk 5-12 4-4 15, Schambow 7-15 2-3 16, Carter 2-4 0-0 5, McGettigan 1-8 2-4 5, Boyd 2-3 0-0 4, Scheper 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 22-54 8-11 57.

UW-SP (72) - Iserloth 5-14 3-4 15, Kalsow 6-9 0-0 12, Krajnik 5-6 8-10 21, Nolting 2-4 2-2 7, Kadima 5-9 0-0 11, Relerford 0-2 0-0 0, Bennett 0-1 0-0 0, DeVos 0-3 2-2 2, Maus 1-3 2-2 4. Totals: 24-51 17-20 72.

3-Point Goals: PLT - 5-23 (Stangel 2-7, Selk 1-4, Schambow 0-1, Carter 1-3, McGettigen 1-8), STP - 7-21 (Iserloth 2-6, Krajnik 3-4, Nolting 1-3, Relerford 0-2, Bennett 0-1, DeVos 0-2). Rebounds: PLT - 27, STP - 34. Personal Fouls: PLT - 16, STP - 15. Fouled Out: none.