|
Big Second Half
Rallies Pointers Past Gustavus
Box Score
Apparently a halftime deficit is the perfect motivator for the
UW-Stevens Point men�s basketball team.
It�s happened only four times this year, but the
Pointers have played some of their best basketball in those situations.
Saturday was no different as UW-Stevens Point used a big second half to post
a 66-55 win at Gustavus Adolphus in an NCAA Division III second round
contest in front of a raucous crowd of 3,213 in St. Peter, Minn.
The Pointers are now 25-5 overall and advance to
the NCAA sectional tournament next weekend to face Puget Sound (Wash.) at a site to be determined. Gustavus Adolphus was
last year�s national runner-up and ended its season with a 22-6 record.
UW-Stevens Point avenged a 75-62 loss to the
Gusties in last year�s second round in Stevens Point.
�This may sound strange, but this is one of the
most memorable victories in school history,� Pointers� coach Jack Bennett
said. �This was a challenge and they have one of the best, most vociferous
cheering sections in Division III. We had to beat not only their players,
but their entire student body.�
UW-Stevens Point played a lackluster first half,
but trailed only 25-22 at halftime. The Pointers responded by shooting 65.2
percent in the second half and scoring 44 second half points to earn the
win. UW-Stevens Point also trailed at halftime against Carroll, UW-Stout and
UW-River Falls and has shot an incredible 60.4 percent in the second half
after the four intermission deficits. The Pointers rallied to win three of
those games, losing only at UW-River Falls.
The Gusties had their biggest lead of the game at
25-19 in the final minute of the first half before the Pointers� Kyle
Grusczynski hit a three-pointer with 26 seconds left in the half.
UW-Stevens Point used an 8-2 run in the second
half to build a 46-40 lead with 9:24 left, however, the Gusties� Eric Nelson
banked in a three-pointer and then drilled another three-pointer on their
next possession to tie the game for the eighth time with 8:17 left.
After a Pointer basket, Chris TeBrake hit a
three-pointer to put Gustavus Adolphus ahead 49-48 with 7:19 left, but the
Gusties went cold from that point, hitting just one of their last nine
shots. UW-Stevens Point�s Jason Kalsow made a three-point play and hit
another basket to spark a 9-0 run over the next 4:41 as the Pointers led
57-49 before a Gusties� free throw with 2:38 left.
Gustavus Adolphus cut the lead to 57-52 with 1:54
left, but Eric Maus hit a jumper with the shot clock running out with 1:20
left for a 59-52 lead. The Pointers made seven of eight free throws in the
final minute to seal the victory.
�When they tied the game at 46-46, this place
exploded and it was as loud of a place I�ve ever heard,� Bennett said. �Boy,
did we answer it.�
Kalsow finished with 19 points, including 14 in
the second half after having three fouls at halftime. He had seven points in
last year�s loss to the Gusties.
�He wanted to prove something tonight,� Bennett
said of his team�s leading scorer. �He had such a frustrating night against
this team last year and didn�t have a real good first half, but stayed with
it and sure played well in the second half.�
Nick Bennett added 17 points and was
three-for-three from three-point range. Nelson led Gustavus Adolphus with 12
points. |
