Menomonie – Not even a gallant rally from a 17-point second half deficit which tied the score with 2:06 remaining could save the slumping University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s basketball team on Wednesday night.

The Pointers watch UW-Stout sink seven of nine free throws in the final 1:29 to pull out a 67-63 victory before just 212 fans at Johnson Fieldhouse.

It was the fourth straight defeat for coach Jack Bennett’s outfit which dropped to 2-5 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 8-7 overall. The Pointers play at UW-River Falls Saturday night.

Stout, which had lost six straight and 25 of the last 26 encounters with UW-SP, improved to 3-4 in the WIAC and 10-5 overall.

Despite shooting only 37 percent in the first half, the Pointers trailed at the break by just 27-25.

A barrage of 3-point baskets at the start of the second half enabled the Blue Devils to surge ahead by 17 points, 46-29, with 12:23 remaining.

The flurry was led by senior Jeremy Preston who had three of the treys. Junior Ben Kuepers and junior Jeremy Leibfried contributed one each.

The long-range exploits were unexpected, coming on the heels of Stout’s 35.7 percent first half shooting which included just 2 of 8 from 3-point range.

It took more than 11 minutes against great odds but the Pointers were able to dig themselves out of the deep hole.

UW-SP responded with a 14-0 run which closed the gap to 46-43 with 9:09 left. The rally was led by Nate Vosters and Jay Bennett who had five points each.

The Blue Devils temporarily weathered the storm, regaining an eight-point lead at 53-45 with 6:44 to go on a dunk by Scott Klimek.

Bennett then sparked a final Pointer rally by draining a pair of 3-point baskets and two free throws. Kalonji Kadima added a jumper and Bennett’s second trey created a 58-58 deadlock with 2:06 left.

The Pointers, however, could never get the lead as Aaron Vachowiak, a 6-7 sophomore, scored six of his 12 points in the final 1:29, including a critical 3-point play that gave Stout a 62-58 lead with 51 seconds to play.

With Vachowiak and Leibfried hitting four straight free throws, Stout built its lead back to seven points at 67-60 with just 13 seconds remaining.

In the final analysis, the Blue Devils’ margin of victory was gained from beyond the arc. Stout connected on 9 of 19 3-point attempts compared to just 6 of 20 for by UW-SP.

The Pointers shot just 40 percent overall but compensated somewhat by converting 17 of 19 free throws. Stout, however, had a 34-28 rebounding advantage and also did well at the line with 14 of 18.

The Blue Devils, who lost a pair of overtime thrillers to UW-SP last season, had four players score in double figures. Preston, 4 of 7 from long range, led the way with 18 points. Kuepers had 15 points and six rebounds, Leibfried 14 points and five assists and Vachowiak 12 points and six boards.

Bailey scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half and also grabbed six rebounds. Bennett came off the bench to score all 14 of his points after the break. He was 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. 6-5 senior Derek Westrum added 11 points and seven rebounds.