If the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball team never sees Paul Manchester again, it may be too soon.

Manchester scored 21 of his 24 points in the second half, including a 3-point jumper from the right angle with only two seconds remaining to lift UW-La Crosse to a dramatic 81-78 win over the Pointers before just 388 fans at Mitchell hall here on Saturday night.

The last-second heroics by Manchester, a 6-1 junior home-town product from Logan high, ruined a determined comeback by the Pointers who trailed by seven points (75-68) with just 1:11 remaining.

The loss dropped UW-SP to 2-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 5-3 overall. The Pointers host Lawrence University of Appleton in a non-league outing on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The win, second in a row for UW-L over the Pointers, improved the Eagles of coach Charlie Gross to 2-2 in the WIAC and 4-4 overall.

"I've got two contrasting emotions at the same time," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett. "I'm disappointed we lost but also very proud of the team."

"Some nights, you do everything you can to win but it just doesn't work out. We didn't lose this game. La Crosse won it."

A jumper by Brant Bailey and lay-in by Kalonji Kadima drew UW-SP to within 76-75 with 25 seconds left.

Manchester was fouled with 20 seconds to go and made both free throws for a 78-75 lead.

The Pointers' Gabe Frank was fouled as he attempted a 3-point shot with only eight seconds left.

Frank, a 6-5 junior who scored 19 points, nailed all three of his free throw attempts to tie the score.

The Eagles got the in-bounds pass to Manchester, who dribbled down the right sideline before launching his long jumper which came from well beyond the 3-point line and drew nothing but net with :02 remaining.

"I thought seriously about going to a zone on that last possession but during our timeout before Gabe attempted the free throws I wasn't sure if we'd be behind or tied," Bennett said. "We couldn't foul in that situation and Manchester hit a great shot with a hand in his face."

"La Crosse has a tough club with good senior leadership as well as some talented younger players. They are extremely strong on the perimeter and you can't just concentrate on trying to stop one guy."

The Eagles had four players score in double figures, more then compensating for a 25-point night by 6-7 UW-SP junior Bailey and a 19-point effort by Frank.

In addition to Manchester, who had three 3-pointers and five assists, UW-L got 18 points from 6-3 senior Ryan Eklund, 15 from freshman guard Brian Czarniak and 13 from 6-4 senior Steve Tracy who also dominated the glass coming down with 17 rebounds. Eklund buried 5 of 6 3-point shots while Czarniak was a perfect 3-for-3.

Bailey hit 10 of 15 shots and Frank, who also handed out six assists, 6 of 10, including 4 of 7 3-point attempts. Adding eight points each were 6-7 Joe Zuiker and guard Nate Vosters. 6-5 senior Derek Westrum led the rebound effort with nine while freshman Kadima had five steals.