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Pointers Pass
First Test of WIAC Tournament
Box Score
UW-Stevens Point passed its
first test of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men�s
basketball tournament with flying colors in more ways than one.
The Pointers used a
precision passing attack to dissect the UW-Superior defense and earn an
88-68 quarterfinal victory. UW-Stevens Point had assists on 20 of its first
23 baskets and finished with 24 assists for the game in defeating the
Yellowjackets in the first round for the second straight year.
The second-seeded Pointers
advance to host third-seeded UW-Oshkosh in the semifinals for the third
straight year. The game is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Quandt
Fieldhouse.
UW-Stevens Point missed its
first shot attempt of the game, but made its next seven field goals to build
a 23-7 lead with 10:53 left in the first half. The Pointers cruised from
that point, connecting on 60 percent of their shots in the first half and
69.2 percent in the second half.
The Pointers did most of
their work on the inside, sending cutters through the lane and snaring sharp
passes for layups. UW-Stevens Point scored 50 of its points in the paint and
hit a season-low three three-pointers in just 10 attempts.
One of the Pointers� threes
was a milestone shot, however, as Nick Bennett�s shot that put UW-Stevens
Point ahead 23-7 was the 205th three-pointer of his career, eclipsing Andy
Boario�s school record.
It wasn�t the only record
set on the night as Jason Kalsow surpassed a 46-year old school rebounding
record with seven boards to give him 823 for his career and pass the mark of
La Vern Luebstorf from 1959. Kalsow is the first player from any WIAC school
to break his school�s career rebound record since Dan McGinty of UW-River
Falls in 1979 and is the only player who currently leads a WIAC team in both
career scoring and rebounding.
In fact, Kalsow�s
record-setting rebound kept alive another mark as his putback with 4:36 left
gave him 11 points for the night and his 59th straight game in double
figures. He also had seven assists as one of four Pointers with at least
four assists. The team�s 24 helpers was two shy of the WIAC tournament
record.
UW-Stevens Point led 39-23
at halftime and opened the second half by making its first six shots while
pushing the lead to 47-26. The Pointers maintained at least a 16-point lead
throughout the half and led by as many as 26 points.
Bennett had 22 points to
lead the Pointers, while Jon Krull and Eric Maus each posted season highs
with Krull scoring 20 and Maus adding 14. UW-Stevens Point had a season-high
15 turnovers, but had five in the last three minutes of the game with the
reserves on the floor.
Laron Reed scored 21 points
to lead the Yellowjackets, notching 17 of his points in the second half.
Leonard Cobb had 19 points, including 15 after halftime. |
