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Pointers' Defense
Shuts Down Eagles
Central Wisconsin Sunday
Original
Article
Box Score
LA CROSSE - The Pointers needed to bounce back from their first loss of
the season Wednesday.
Unfortunately for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, they did just that
on Saturday.
UWSP shot 57 percent from the floor, and its defense - ranked 13th stingiest
in the nation - held UW-La Crosse to 21 percent shooting in an 83-39
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rout.
"We did a good job not allowing too many unchallenged shots," UWSP
Jack Bennett said. "We got a hand in their face on every shot."
The win, coupled with UW-Whitewater's 80-79 overtime loss to UW-Eau
Claire, puts UWSP alone in the driver's seat atop the WIAC with Whitewater
visiting UWSP on Wednesday.
"They'll still be a handful," Bennett said. "I hope we have a
packed house."
Nick Bennett, just three days after being shut out in the second half off
the setback in Platteville, went 6-of-8 from the floor and hit 4-of-5 on
3-point tries to tally 22 points to lead all scorers.
Kyle Grusczynski scored 15 in his first start of the season, for an injured
Brett Hirsch, and Jason Kalsow put up 10 points and pulled down a game-high
eight rebounds.
Stevens Point Area Senior High product Casey Taggatz led La Crosse with 13
points on 2-of-9 shooting.
The Eagles (7-7, 0-5 WIAC) went up 3-0 before UWSP (12-1, 4-1 WIAC) went
on a 14-0 tear to get the night started.
"We wanted to make a statement," Jack Bennett said. "La
Crosse is capable of beating some people. We had to play with some emotion
involved."
Not that the Pointer coach necessarily relished all of the emotion that
went into the contest against his former assistant, first-year Eagles head
coach Ken Koelbl.
"It's always hard when you play friends," Jack Bennett said,
adding that such contests aren't always the light-hearted affairs they
should be.
"People who think that don't understand competitive nature." |
