By Don Friday of the Stevens Point Journal

The already flickering flame representing a return to NCAA Division III playoffs by the Pointers was extinguished at Quandt Fieldhouse Wednesday night.

UW-Oshkosh kept its own playoff hopes alive by pulling away from the Pointers in the final five minutes to post a 78-67 victory before 1,497 fans who turned out to watch the home finale on senior night.

The key road win solidified the Titans' grip on second place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Oshkosh is now 10-3 in conference play with three games remaining and 19-3 on the season.

The disappointing loss dropped UWSP to 8-6 in the WIAC and 16-7 overall. The Pointers have two road games left, at Eau Claire on Wednesday and at Stout on Saturday.

Both coaches viewed the outcome in similar fashion.

"Their key players made more big plays than ours did down the stretch," said UWSP coach Jack Bennett. "And it was not because our guys were not trying. In some cases, maybe they were trying too hard."

Oshkosh coach Ted Van Dellen, whose team has been thriving down the stretch of numerous close games this season, credited senior backcourt players Joe Imhoff, Brett Davis and Jake Browarski for holding things together. "We tend, like a lot of teams, to have our ups and downs in the early and middle stages of games. Our guys have come to understand, however, that when two good teams play it comes down to who makes plays in the last 3 or 4 minutes."

"Coaches can only do so much. Players have to make things happen and it's been our three seniors who have provided the leadership when things get tough," Van Dellen added.

The game was very much up for grabs with just under 6 minutes left when UWSP senior Dan Denniston drained a 3-pointer from the left wing to tie the score at 49-49.

Talented 6-5 Titan sophomore Brad Clark, 6-6 freshman redshirt Aric Vaubel and Imhoff then led a final Oshkosh surge that put the game away.

The Pointers were stymied by several forced shots and ball handling mistakes.

Two straight baskets by Clark gave Oshkosh a 57-51 lead with 3 minutes, 38 seconds left and the margin suddenly grew to nine at 63-54 on four straight free throws by Imhoff.

Trailing, the Pointers got into a situation where they had to foul and the Titans showed just why they are shooting better than 80 percent from the line on the season. Oshkosh, which was 31 of 37 from the stripe for 86 percent, sank 16 of 18 in the final 3:12 to keep Point at bay.

"It's something coaches talk about every year, but going out and doing it is another thing," Van Dellen said of his team's free throw shooting. "The main thing is that we've got guys with the confidence to step up there and put them in."

The Pointers also excelled at the line, connecting on 20 of 24 for 83 percent, but failed to take full advantage of getting into the bonus with 12:28 left and the double bonus with 8:44 remaining, mainly because they could not build a lead of more than three points.

In the earlier meeting, won by Oshkosh, 72-69, the Titans' accuracy from long range proved decisive. On this occasion, however, the Titans were limited to 3 of 13 shooting from beyond the arc. Imhoff, the former Marshfield Senior High standout who had seven treys in the first meeting, nailed just 1 of 7.

Oshkosh, which scored 51 points in the second half after a 27-27 intermission deadlock, instead relied on tough defense in key situations, scoring balance, unerring free throw shooting and a 37-29 rebounding advantage to carry the day.

Clark, who was 9 of 14 from the field, tallied 17 of his game-high 24 points in the second half. He also led both teams with 10 rebounds.

Imhoff, 10 for 10 at the stripe, contributed 15 points and five assists, Vaubel added 13 and 6-9 sophomore post man Keith Meyer had 11. Davis, who buried a huge trey with 1:40 left and his team ahead by six, also handed out six assists and grabbed seven rebounds.

"Give Oshkosh credit. They are a good club and playing with more cohesiveness than they were last season," Bennett said. "They also are playing better defense and getting great senior leadership. Imhoff has made them so much better. Joe is a prime example of what persevering throughout a career can do if you work hard and stick with it."

Denniston, who along with running mate Russ Austin and backup center Bob Blessington concluded their home careers, led the Pointers with 20 points. He nailed 4 of 6 attempts from 3-point land and scored 14 in the second half.

Brant Bailey again provided a spark off the bench with 16 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Gabe Frank added 12 points and four assists.

Although nailing 7 of 18 form long range, the Pointers shot just 38.5 percent from the floor overall compared to the Titans' 42 percent. And nine of UWSP's 15 turnovers came in the second half.

"We've put ourselves in position to win a lot of close games this season and tonight was no different," Bennett said. "Earlier, we were able to rely on our defense to take over down the stretch. But lately we've had to outscore teams. I'm bound and determined to ensure our defense is better next season."