|
Pointer Defense
Shuts Down UW-River Falls
Box Score
UW-Stevens Point used a stifling defensive effort to shut down Wisconsin
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason favorite UW-River Falls and
post a 56-38 victory over the Falcons Wednesday in Stevens Point.
Pointers� junior center Eric Maus shut down preseason Division III Player of
the Year Rich Melzer and limited the senior star to just seven points.
Melzer entered the game averaging 29.8 points per game, but had just four
first half points and three points in the second half.
The entire UW-River Falls
offense was shut down on Wednesday, normally averaging 81.2 points per game.
Senior guard Chris Becker, who averages 13.0 points per game, was held
scoreless. The Pointers, who are ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division III by
D3hoops.com, beat the Falcons for the 18th straight time.
UW-Stevens Point never
trailed in the grind-it-out, hard-fought contest. The Pointers scored the
first four points of the game and held at least a five-point lead for most
of the first half. Maus hit Jason Kalsow for a layup at the first half
buzzer to give UW-Stevens Point a 27-16 halftime lead.
The Pointers held the
11-point lead for the entire second half. After UW-Stevens Point pushed the
advantage to 17 points early in the half, the Falcons cut the lead to 11
points when Melzer made one of two free throws. However, Nick Bennett and
Maus hit back-to-back baskets to push the lead back to 15 points at 43-28
with 8:40 left.
Melzer missed his first
five shots on the Falcons first seven possessions of the game and finished
three-for-14 shooting. Maus was physical against the 6-8 center the entire
game and Pointers� perimeter players rarely allowed entry passes into the
post.
Melzer scored twice on
offensive post moves and had another basket on a transition layup. Kalsow
led the Pointers with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Bennett added 15
points and Maus had 10. Micah Helfrey led UW-River Falls with nine points.
Related Link:
Stevens Point Journal Game Article |
