By Don Friday of the Stevens Point Journal

It's the giving season to be sure, but especially when the opponent is the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, charity when the clock is stopped is often the difference between victory and defeat.

Like most showdowns in recent years between Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference powers, this one was decided at the free throw line.

And, like most of the other encounters, it was the Pioneers who had all the better of it at the charity stripe in a 52-44 victory over UW-Stevens Point before a raucous crowd of 2,642 mostly partisan fans at Quandt Fieldhouse.

It was the first loss of the season for UW-SP, which had ousted Platteville from the NCAA Division III playoffs a year ago on the Pioneer's home court. The Pointers are now 1-1 in the WIAC and 7-1 overall.

The Pioneers, who have won the last three WIAC championships, improved to 2-0 in league play and 4-0 overall.

The game, contested with playoff-level intensity, more than lived up to advance billing. The defenses dominated to the extent that both teams shot less than 40 percent from the field while combining for just 5 of 26 from 3-point range.

Platteville, however, converted 24 of 34 free throw attempts (.706) compared to just 9 of 12 for Point.

"Those figures speak for themselves," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett. "Part of it was the fact that we had to foul them late in the game and part of it was what I would call the Platteville mystique.

"I can't fault our effort at all. Platteville is a very good team that always plays hard. Each point was hard to come by. I think you saw two of the best defensive teams in the nation out there tonight."

Platteville coach William (Bo) Ryan saw things pretty much the same way.

"Jack and I have been around the block a few times," Ryan said. "It was like two boxers out there, trading punches until somebody staggered a little.

"We didn't shoot the ball well, but I like to think that was due to Point's defense. They didn't shoot the ball all that well either and I like to think our defense had a lot to do with that."

Bennett, however, lamented the fact that he had to go without his two big men starters, 6-foot-7 Joe Zuiker and 6-7 Brant Bailey, for long stretches due to foul problems. Zuiker played just 21 minutes and Bailey 27. The loss of starter Derek Westrum also had a major impact on the substitution pattern.

"We had to go long stretches without them," Bennett said. "When we go bigger with our two 6-10 guys, (Brett) Hornseth and (Bob) Blessington, we lose something offensively because they are not scorers."

Both teams had prolonged dry spells but UW-SP unfortunately experienced its famine at the worst possible time, early in the second half when Platteville made its move.

The Pioneers, after taking quick 4-0 lead, went almost eight minutes before scoring again, yet still trailed just 11-4.

UW-SP had a 10-point lead (18-8) with 5:03 left but UW-P used a 10-2 run to close the half-time deficit to 20-18.

With just over four minutes elapsed in the half, the Pointers had a 26-19 lead, only to see Bailey pick up his third foul and Zuiker his third and fourth in quick succession.

To make matters worse, UW-SP went stone cold from the field, missing repeatedly from in close and from beyond the arc.

Platteville went on a 25-8 run during the next 12 minutes to open a 44-34 lead with 3:54 remaining.

The Pointers made one final run. Russ Austin buried a pair of 3-pointers to close the gap to 46-42 with 2:16 remaining.

The Pioneers, however, maintained their poise, and sank 6 of 10 free throws in the time that remained to put the game away.

Ryan felt his bench played a key role in the outcome. Non-starters accounted for 16 points and 13 rebounds. The UW-SP bench, conversely, came up with no points and nine rebounds.

Platteville prevailed despite shooting just 31.7 percent from the floor (13-41). The Pointers were slightly better with 16 of 44 for 36.4 percent. Another key was the Pioneers' 38-27 rebounding advantage, including 13-4 on the offensive glass.

"We can't win a game like this shooting just 3 of 18 on 3-pointers," Bennett said. "We should be a 40-percent team from that range. We had some good looks but we have to let our 3-point shots come more naturally."

All-WIAC lead guard Ben Hoffmann, who was hospitalized earlier in the week with a foot infection, hit just 2 of 9 shots but his 11-of-14 performance at the free throw line was huge in the Pioneers win. The 6-3 senior also had eight rebounds and three assists. Dan Wargolet, a 6-4 junior, added nine points and game-high nine rebounds.

Austin, who had all of the Pointers' treys, wound up with 15 points and six rebounds while Bailey added 11 points and Dan Denniston eight, along with six assists.

Neither coach was in a frame of mind to attach great significance to the outcome.

"It's a 16 game schedule and there is a lot of basketball to play," Ryan said. "This was just one of many battles to come. Point is going to win a lot of games, on the road as well as at home, especially when they get Westrum back.

Bennett concurred. "Each team has the capacity to get better," he said. "We will improve our offensive execution and look forward to getting one of our key players back in the lineup."

The Pointers now take a break for semester exams. UW-SP will host Winona State Monday, Dec. 22.