After a 25 day absence, a return to the realities of warfare in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference did not get off to a promising start for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s basketball team.

Fading badly in the last eight minutes, the Pointers were upended by UW-Oshkosh, 58-50, before 673 fans at Quandt Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.

It was a damaging loss in the WIAC for UW-SP which dropped to 2-3 in league play and 8-5 overall, with a home date looming Saturday against defending NCAA Division III champion UW-Platteville.

The key road victory improved UW-O to 3-2 in the WIAC and 9-4 overall. It marked the second straight year the UW-O has beaten the Pointers on their home court.

"We went stone cold down the stretch," said disappointed UW-SP coach Jack Bennett. "I don’t know if it was fatigue setting in from our weather delays getting back from the Texas trip or a mental thing but we jest did not go after it the way we needed to."

After a 29-29 first half standoff, the Pointers appeared to find themselves, opening leads of 38-31 with 16:30 remaining and 49-44 with 7:57 left.

The rest of the way, however, it was a nightmare as the Pointers missed shots and committed crucial turnovers, three in a row which took place after the Titans switched to a zone defense in the final eight minutes.

"We played the same zone against Platteville but I was very leery of going to it tonight because Point has some great 3-point shooters," said UW-O coach Ted Van Dellen. "It was just one of those deals where it worked out.

"I just feel fortunate to get out of here with a win. Had Point hit some of those 3-point shots when we went to the zone, it could easily have gone the other way. There is just such a fine line between winning and losing in the conference."

The Titans quickly got back in the game by going on an 8-0 run which gave them a 52-49 lead with 1:50 remaining.

After Kalonji Kadima’s drive to the hoop gave UW-SP a 49-44 lead, the Pointers went six minutes and 40 seconds without scoring, a lapse which proved fatal.

The famine finally ended when Brant Bailey hit one of two free throws with 1:17 left, making it 52-50, but Titan guard Justin Kamps got penetration in the lane and sank a short jumper with 1:03 left.

Jay Bennett, Travis Kornowski and Gave Frank then missed 3-point attempts during the next UW-SP possessions and UW-O sealed the victory on free throws by Paul Jonas and Keith Meyer and a lay-in following a steal by Brad Clark. Clark, a 6-5 junior all-WIAC performer, also had two key baskets in the Titans’ 8-0 run. He finished with 16 points, all but four in the second half.

The Pointers also had no answer for the inside power game of Meyer, the Titans’ muscular 6-8, 250 pound junior who tallied 13 of his 17 points in the opening half.

"I’m extremely disappointed at how soft we played Meyer after doing a good job on a player who drew Division K interest on our trip to Texas," Jack Bennett said.

While the Titans hit 24 of 47 attempts for 51 percent, the Pointers made only 18 of 49 for an abysmal 36.7 percent. Neither team had much success from the 3-point range with UW-O making just 3 of 15 attempts and UW-SP 5 of 15.

Not even a 33-27 rebounding advantage was enough to overcome the other shortcomings for the Pointers, who were guilty of 15 turnovers, 11 of which came after the break.

"We missed too many easy shots," Bennett said. "It was like we were playing not to lose instead of to win. You have to stay assertive and aggressive but still play smart.

Right now, we are lacking soundness at a couple of positions and it’s killing us in the close games."

Only two Pointers scored in double figures. Bailey, held to two free throws in the opening half, came back to finish with 11 and Gabe Frank added 10. Derek Westrum, who also had four assists and helped control Meyer in the second half, and Frank each grabbed seven rebounds.

Kamps, a 6-5 sophomore guard who prepped at Appleton Fox Valley Lutheran, make his presence felt with 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Clark added six boards and five assists.

The Pointers now have little time to regroup for a major challenge against Platteville. Bennett left no doubt about what has to take place if his team is to spring an upset.

"We have to shoot better, get after it more, especially inside and take care of the ball," he said.