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UWSP Rolls Past
Calumet, 96-60
By Jerry Rhoden
Central Wisconsin Sunday
Original Article
Box Score
STEVENS POINT - At least Calumet College found a way to take the crowd out
of the game early.
Jason Kalsow scored a game-high 26 points for the University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Calumet turned the ball over 20 times as UWSP
ran off a 35-point halftime lead on its way to a 96-60 victory on Saturday
at Quandt Fieldhouse.
After countering Kalsow's game-opening jumper with a 3-pointer from Ed
Gipson that had the Pointers trailing for the first time this season,
Calumet turned the ball over on three straight possessions while UWSP went
on to hit its first six attempts and 70 percent of its first-half field
goals. For the game, the Pointers (5-0, 1-0 Wisconsin Intercolle-giate
Athletic Conference), ranked second in the nation by D3hoops.com, hit 69
percent from the floor and 67 percent of their treys.
"It's a welcome luxury that you don't get very often," UWSP head
coach Jack Bennett said of the blowout. "And everybody was able to get
considerable minutes."
UWSP, which had the nation's sixth-stingiest defense last season, leads the
WIAC by allowing teams to hit just 35.6 percent of their shots. Calumet
(4-5) hit 35 percent for the game. The Crimson Wave threw a zone defense at
the Pointers, who took it in stride.
"They tried to fluster our guards," Kalsow said. "But Neal (Krajnik),
Tamaris (Relerford) and (Brett) Hirsch did a good job taking it to the
hole."
All three of Kalsow's assists came on baskets by Bennett, and three of
Bennett's helpers went to Kalsow as the two slashed to the hoop.
"UW-Stevens Point is definitely a team that's running on all
cylinders," said fifth-year Calumet coach Nathan Pomeday, a
Northwestern University alumnus who was recruited by Dick Bennett when the
older Bennett coaching brother was at UW-Green Bay. "I knew they would
hit a high percentage of their shots, and they do the little things, but you
don't see it because they're always putting the ball in the basket."
And everyone wearing a Pointers jersey put the ball in the basket at least
once for UWSP, as everyone on the roster scored.
"Games like this are great because it's hard to simulate game minutes
in practice," said forward Brian Bauer, who was one of four Pointer
second-teamers to get at least 13 minutes.
"You like to get out there instead of beating your legs in
practice," added forward Kyle Grusczynski, who hit a game-high three
3-pointers. "The best practice is playing time."
True freshman Jon Krull put up 11 points, and Nick Bennett had 10 to go with
a game-best five assists. The Pointers finished with 23 assists - one off
their season high - as they led the WIAC at 18.25 per game heading in.
UWSP will host Carroll College (2-2) at 4 p.m. today to finish up a
season-opening six-game homestand. The Pointers will travel to Menomonie to
face UW-Stout at 7 p.m. Wednesday before traveling to the Las Vegas
Tournament before Christmas.
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