Thu, Jan 17, 2002

Defensive stand lifts Pointer men to victory
By Journal staff

SUPERIOR - Josh Iserloth hit a basket with 35 seconds remaining to give the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball team a 72-70 victory against Superior on Wednesday.

The Pointers improve to 5-2 in the Wisconsin intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 14-3 overall.

Superior (2-6 WIAC, 9-7) made one last offensive push at the end of the game. However, the Yellowjackets were unable to connect on any of their three shots. The last shot, by Superior's Don DeFoe, was blocked by the Pointers' Justin Mallett with three seconds left on the clock.

"Everything was contested down the stretch," said UW-SP head coach Jack Bennett. "We had a great defensive stand and Justin put up a huge block to seal it for us."

Iserloth finished as the leading scorer for the Pointers with 23 points, connecting on 10-of-16 field goal attempts.
Ron Nolting was slated to start for UW-SP, but became sick on the ride up to Superior. He was re-placed in the lineup by Nick Bennett and the freshman scored 20 points, including four out of five 3-pointers.

The Yellowjackets' Brandon Vesel was the game's top scorer with 28 points.

The Pointers are back in action Saturday when they face UW-Stout.

In the last meeting between the two teams, the Blue Devils beat UW-SP 72-61 at Johnson Fieldhouse in Menomonie on Dec. 8.  Tip-off for the rematch is set for 7 p.m. at the Quandt Fieldhouse.