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Pointers Fall to
UW-Stout in WIAC Semifinals
Box Score
Another classic battle between UW-Stevens Point
and UW-Stout came down to the wire, but this time it was the Blue Devils who
pulled out the late-game magic and the victory.
The Blue Devils used a late nine-point run to
erase a one-point deficit and snap the Pointers� NCAA Division III record
18-game postseason winning streak in a 78-70 victory on Thursday in
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference semifinals in Menomonie.
UW-Stout is now 21-5 advances to its first league
tournament final since the inaugural tournament in 1999. The Blue Devils
will play at UW-Whitewater on Saturday in the title game. UW-Stevens Point,
the two-time defending WIAC tournament and NCAA Division III champion, ends
its season at 17-10.
After UW-Stevens Point pulled out dramatic double
overtime and last-second victories over the Blue Devils during the regular
season, it didn�t appear there would be any last-minute heroics in this game
when the Pointers missed their first 11 shots of the game, including nine
three-pointers, and failed to score until 10:18 left in the first half as
UW-Stout built a 16-0 lead.
UW-Stevens Point slowly battled back in the first
half, but the Blue Devils� Adam Chandler hit one of his several clutch shots
at the first half buzzer that put UW-Stout ahead 33-20 at halftime.
Just as they did less than two weeks ago in
Menomonie when they trailed by 18 points in the second half, the Pointers
heated up in the second half, coming out as hot after halftime as they were
cold in the first half. UW-Stevens Point made six of its first seven shots
and scored 17 points in the first 4:33 of the second half with Pete Rortvedt
hitting three three-pointers and scoring 11 of the points during the run to
quickly close the gap to 41-37.
UW-Stevens Point later closed to within three
points and eventually cut the deficit to two points, but was unable to take
its first lead until Steve Hicklin drained a three-pointer with 6:32 left in
the game for a 54-53 lead. The Pointers were eight-for-18 from three-point
range in the second half and 10-for-32 for the game as they were forced to
shoot long range shots the entire game due to the dominating inside presence
of seven-footer Jacob Nonemacher, who finished with six blocks and affected
several inside shots.
The teams traded leads over the next three minutes
as UW-Stevens Point went back ahead 61-60 with 3:52 left on a pair of free
throws by Jon Krull. However, Greg Chaisson converted a pair of free throws
on the other end for the Blue Devils to commence the decisive run.
UW-Stevens Point had two possessions down by one
point, but failed to score on both and then Chandler drained a three-pointer
from the top of the key with 1:40 left to put UW-Stout ahead 65-61. The
Pointers missed a shot at the other end and Terry Farmer delivered a
fastbreak dunk for the Blue Devils to make it 67-61 with 1:02 left. UW-Stout
made 11 straight free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.
Farmer led the Blue Devils with 17 points and 10
rebounds. Ryan Stangl added 16 points and Chandler had 12 points and five
assists.
Hicklin led the Pointers with 18 points, while
Krull had 15 points. UW-Stevens Point ended the game at 40.3 percent from
the field and UW-Stout shot 51.9 percent. |
