There’s nothing like a 28-2 run to help end a four-game losing streak.

That stretch and a defensive performance reminiscent of past teams was all the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s basketball team needed Saturday night.

UW-Stevens Point ended a four-game pattern of close losses by routing UW-River Falls, 64-38, at Karges Center on Saturday night.

The victory left UW-SP 3-5 in the WIAC and 9-7 overall while UW-RF is now 2-6 in league play and 6-9 overall.

The Pointers will try to make amends for one of their close defeats earlier in the season when they host nationally ranked UW-Whitewater on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Quandt Fieldhouse.

"We’ve been competitive," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett. "If we can play like this over the full stretch, we’ll be back. I told the players that the way we played was not all that much different from the recent close games we lost, expect that tonight we were consistently good."

Despite the final 26-point margin, the game got off to a sluggish start for UW-SP.

The Falcons bolted to a 9-2 lead with five minutes elapsed before the game took a startling and unexpected 360-degree turn.

A 12-0 run got the Pointers untracked, giving them a 14-9 lead with 8:36 left in the half.

After two free throws by Falcons’ Tony Fisher, UW-SP ran off 16 consecutive points to take a 30-11 lead with 3:50 to go.

"We decided to start (Joe) Zuiker in the post because he has a little better blocking ability than Brant and is also a good passer," Bennett explained.

"The added advantage was the explosive quality Brant brings coming off the bench. Wreath’s play was an added bonus, especially with (Nate) Vosters in early foul trouble. James has been used sparingly but he was a nice scorer in high school."

There was no letup on the Pointers’ part in the second half, which began on a promising note when Gabe Frank buried a 3-point bomb.

Derek Westrum, who also had five assists and came down with a game-high 11 rebounds while playing in his hometown for the final time, gave UW-SP a 20-point cushion at 44-24 on a lay0in with 13:36 remaining.

With the Pointer’s defense smothering the Falcons, the margin reached a game-high 28 points in the closing seconds.

"We expected to have our hands full and them some coming in here but we played real well defensively," Bennett said. "Out substitution pattern also helped us."

Bailey, who made 9 of 13 shots finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. He was the only UW-SP player in double figures, although nine of the 15 players Bennett used broke the scoring column.

The shooting statistics were an accurate barometer of how the game went. While UW-SP hit on 26 of 57 attempts for 45.6 percent, including a banner 8 of 15 from long range, UW-RF made just 14 of 53 for a frigid 26.4 percent. Things were even worse from beyond the arc where the Falcons were just 2 of 18.

The Pointers also had a solid 38-26 rebounding advantage and led in assists, 19-9.

The River Falls player in double figures was Nic Bean with 15 points.