By Don Friday of the Stevens Point Journal

The University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point men's basketball team has come up with a perfect formula for winning at Quandt Fieldhouse. Simply play an extra 10 minutes.

After not playing a double overtime game since the 1978-79 season, the Pointers incredibly have now been involved in two in a row.

The outcome was the same on both occasions. UW-Stout was a 99-89 victim on January 17 and on Wednesday night before 1,076 fans, the Pointers took the measure of UW-Eau Claire, 84-76.

It was a huge win for UWSP which improved to 5-3 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 13-4 overall. It also vaulted the Pointers into a three-way tie (with Oshkosh and Whitewater) for second place in the WIAC.

The tough loss dropped UWEC to 4-4 in the conference and 12-5 overall. UWSP plays at River Falls on Saturday night.

"I don't know how many more of these the old ticker can take," said an emotionally drained UWSP coach Jack Bennett. "I don't know how good we are because we are struggling on offense right now. But I do know that this is a gutsy bunch of guys who will never quit."

It was an uphill battle throughout for UWSP, which struggled with its shooting (41 percent) most of the night.

In the second overtime, however, the Pointers took command, just as they did against Stout 12 days earlier.

With Dan Denniston scoring eight points and Brant Bailey seven, UWSP outscored the Blugolds 18-10 over the final five minutes.

"Resiliency and depth," Bennett said. "We have to use our depth with the way we play. But we don't just put kids in to rest the starters. We play them because they give us great production."

"I really felt we wore Eau Claire down. It's a sure sign of fatigue when you start missing some free throws and your shots start falling short."

Despite trailing for much of the game, never by more than six points, the Pointers came within inches of winning the game both at the end of regulation and the first overtime.

With the score tied at 55-55 and Eau Claire in possession at half court with 5.3 seconds left in regulation, Dave Grzesk intercepted a lob pass inside and got the ball to Kurt Hoerman who let fly a 35-footer that was dead on line, but hit the front of the rim as time expired.

"I thought it was in for sure when I let it go," said Hoerman, whose aggressive defensive play against the UWEC guards loomed large in the outcome.

The Pointers forged the 55-55 tie when Grzesk tipped a missed shot outside to Jay Bennett who buried a 12-foot jumper with 8 seconds remaining.

After the Blugolds' Jon Wallenfelsz tipped in a rebound with :04 left on the in the first extra period to tie the game 66-66, Grzesk drove the length of the court and dished the ball to Joe Zuiker, whose open 15-foot jumper at the buzzer spun in and out.

Both teams had four players score in double figures. Senior guard Russ Austin, who couldn't seem to find his rhythm, nonetheless came up with 19 points. Dan Denniston, 9 of 12 at the free throw line, had 18 points and six assists, Grzesk 12 points, five assists and three steals and Bailey 10 points. Zuiker and Derek Westrum, both of whom fouled out, combined for 14 points and 15 rebounds.

"I think we had better looks and fresher legs at the end because coach really used the bench and I noticed they weren't subbing as much," Denniston said. "It's really amazing that we've played double overtime games back-to-back. We have to take care of our own business, especially at home, and not worry about what other teams are doing. There are a lot of key matchups between contenders left."

Bailey, who also played a major role in the win over Stout, said he never lost confidence, despite struggling in the first half.

"I knew I had to come in and step it up when Derek fouled out," said the 6-7 sophomore. "I never lose confidence in my ability on offense and I just made up my mind to take it right at their big guy (6-8 Wallenfelsz) inside."

Another key was the defensive job turned in by Grzesk on Blugolds' senior deadeye Andy Fisher who managed 16 points but missed four straight critical free throws and two long range jumpers which fell far short in the two overtimes. He had just six points in the final 30 minutes.

"I just tried to fight through their screens to prevent him from launching rhythm jumpers," Grzesk said. "He's not as dangerous when you make him put the ball on the floor."

Wallenfelsz, the former D.C. Everest prep standout, led the Blugolds with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Adding 15 each were 6-6 sophomore Dave Mellenthin, who also grabbed 10 rebounds, and UW-Green Bay transfer Sherm Carstensen.

Blugolds' redshirt freshman, Ben Schneeberger, a SPASH product, played five minutes but did not score.