It took about a nine minute stretch early in the second half for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s basketball team to blow open the championship game of the 15^th annual Terry Porter Classic Saturday night.

Outscoring Viterbo College 26-11 during that span, the Pointers cruised to a 79-58 victory, their fifth title in a row and 11^th overall, before 1,375 fans at Quandt Fieldhouse.

Connecting on 14 of their first 17 shots after the intermission, the Pointers simply wore down the game V-Hawks with a deeper bench and superior physical skills.

"We made a great leap from our first game in some of the intangibles," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett. "Although Viterbo didn’t have the athleticism of Upper Iowa, we still were much more aggressive defensively."

"Viterbo isn’t a big team but they play a very physical style. WE aren’t huge either but we’re mobile and I like the way we did not back down."

"I was also pleased with the way we took care of the ball and the good blend we had with our perimeter and interior games. And our bench gave us meaningful minutes."

The Pointers (2-0) actually had tow stretches which helped put the 2-3 V-Hawks away.

The first came late in the opening half. Leading 25-21 with under five minutes remaining, UW-SP went on a 9-0 run which helped create a 36-24 halftime cushion. A 3-point bomb from the top of the key by point guard Nate Vosters was the climax to the surge.

Viterbo, however, fought back early in the second half, using an 8-0 run to come within 38-32 with tow minutes elapsed.

That’s when the Pointers landed the knockout punch.

Redshirt freshman swingman Kalonji Kadima, later voted the classic’s most valuable player, and long range artist Jay Bennett sparked the attack, combining to score 18 of the Pointer’s next 26 points.

Kadima, hitting inside and outside, performed in the best tradition of the classic’s namesake, at one stage scoring three straight baskets, the last which gave UW-SP a 54-335 lead with 12:20 to go.

Bennett put on a shooting clinic, using his unorthodox but effective quick release to drain four consecutive 3-pointers.

By the time coach Bennett cleared his bench with 4:45 left, the Pointers’ lead had reached a game high 29 points at 75-46.

"Coach told me he expected me to be a big contributor this season," said Kadima, a 6-3, 200-pounder who prepped at Milwaukee King.

"He also told me I play a little like Terry Porter did. I had a chance to meet Terry last year when He was working with us and he told me to just keep working hard and good things would happen. That gave me a lot of confidence and inspired me."

"My main strength is taking the ball to the hole. I like to set my man up where I can make a move on him. But I also like passing the ball too and I’m working hard on improving my defense."

Coach Bennett feels Kadima is a diamond in the rough.

"He does have a lot of the same mannerisms Terry had," Bennett said. "I did expect he’d have a major impact this season. Kalonji is quick enough and strong enough. I just told him after the game not to rest his laurels."

Four players broke into double figures for the Pointers who shot a blazing 62 percent for the game on 31 of 50 (17 of 24 the second half), including 8 of 16 from beyond the arc, while turning the ball over just six times.

Junior Brant Bailey, unstoppable at time in the low post, led the way with 17 points, 11 of which came in the first half. Bennett scored 14 of his 16 in the second half while Kadima added 13 and 6-5 junior lead guard Gabe Frank 11. All told, 10 players contributed points.

The Pointers played most of the game without 6-5 senior starter Dave Grzesk who was accidentally poked in the eye with the game barely five minutes old and did not return.

UW-SP also managed a 28-26 rebounding edge, led by 6-5 senior Derek Westrum who came down with seven. Bennett embellished his performance by handing out eight assists. Vosters dished out six more.

The V-Hawks could not come close to matching that kind of firepower. Viterbo shot just 42 percent form the field on 19 of 46 (7 of 14 from 3-point range) and had nobody score in double figures.

Sean Madigan, a 6-4 junior, led the way with nine points and five rebounds. Adding eight points each were 6-4 senior Matt Mealy and 6-7 senior Chad Helle.6-5 redshirt freshman Pat Sullivan, a former Pacelli High standout, shipped in six points in 10 minutes.

"This was a good sign that we are getting better," coach Bennett said.